Mazloum Abdi, Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), said that the United States envoy to Syria, Thomas Barrack, told him, after the meeting between Syria’s president in the transitional phase, Ahmad al-Sharaa, and US President Donald Trump, that the meeting between the two presidents was positive and that Trump had discussed northeastern Syria and the SDF.
In an interview with the Mezopotamya Agency, published in two parts on 23 and 24 November, Abdi said that the Syrian delegation had shown President Trump there was a will to resolve the question of northeastern Syria, that relations with the SDF were good, and that Trump wanted the issue settled through dialogue, not war.
According to Abdi, Turkey raised some objections during the meeting, which was attended by its Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at the White House, in the presence of the foreign ministers of the United States and Syria. However, “the general impression is that their tone was not harsh this time, they did not use the language of threats, and they expressed a desire to find a solution.”
Abdi added that the positive points discussed in the negotiations have not yet been implemented on the ground. Since the security forces file was placed on the agenda at the most recent meeting between the two sides in Damascus, the SDF commander said he hopes some practical steps will be taken to resolve the outstanding issues in detail.
He explained that the SDF is discussing the possibility of holding another tripartite meeting, bringing together the SDF, officials from Damascus, and American officials, whether in Damascus, or perhaps elsewhere, or in a third country, in order to take new steps.
A meeting was supposed to take place between Abdi and al-Sharaa before the Syrian president’s trip to Washington, but it was postponed, according to Abdi.
Constitution talks a priority
The SDF Commander-in-Chief said the main issues for his forces are questions of participation in government, one of which is changing the constitution.
He added, “We are also working on this, and there must be clarity and steps taken. The Kurdish delegation must also go to Damascus and secure the Kurdish question and Kurdish rights, alongside the rights of other components, in the Syrian constitution, because that is part of the March 10 agreement.”
According to Abdi, the provisions of the Constitutional Declaration signed by President al-Sharaa on 13 March conflict with the 10 March agreement, and Abdi raised this issue with al-Sharaa during their meeting in Damascus.
To resolve these issues, some provisions of the current Constitutional Declaration must be amended to bring them into line with the March 10 agreement, including the clause on the participation of all components in government, and the clauses related to the Kurdish question, Abdi said.
He added that a fundamental Syrian constitution needs to be drafted, and that this might take two or three years, but all parties must join the committee preparing it, which has not yet happened. “We want representatives of all components to be part of this committee so that we can draft a constitution that suits Syria,” Abdi continued.
On the political future, Abdi stressed that the goal of the Autonomous Administration is a decentralized Syria, where local populations have the right to elect their representatives in military, administrative, and security affairs.
He explained that this decentralization does not mean breaking up or weakening the state, but strengthening it, while preserving the gains of the peoples “who made great sacrifices during the revolution”, including Kurds from Rojava, Deir Ezzor (in eastern Syria), and Raqqa (in northern Syria).
Obstacles to implementing the March 10 agreement
Abdi affirmed that the Autonomous Administration and the SDF are the parties most prepared in terms of proposals and negotiating visions, and said that the Syrian government’s withdrawal from the Paris meeting about two months ago was the clearest sign of where the problem lies.
He explained that the international powers involved in the file, from the United States to France and Britain, are fully informed of how the talks are proceeding, as they receive copies directly of the documents and proposals prepared by the Autonomous Administration.
Abdi pointed out that “no one tells us we are stalling”, because all parties realize that the obstruction comes from the other side, which continues to widen the gap between the two positions.
He revealed that the Autonomous Administration had already sent written proposals on all the outstanding files, including: the format for the military integration of the SDF into the Syrian army, the names of the commanders proposed to assume positions, ideas related to administrative questions, the protection of the Deir Ezzor region (in eastern Syria), and the control of borders and crossings.
However, none of these papers “has received any reply so far”, Abdi said, adding that he had raised this question directly with officials in Damascus and is waiting for an answer or for a date to be set to resume discussions.
He added that the problem is not limited to negotiations, but also includes the question of confidence building, which is essential for any progress. There are sensitive issues such as Afrin (in northwestern Syria) and Ras al-Ain (in northeastern Syria), the return of residents, and the file of students who have studied outside the authority of the state for the last 12 years and whose certificates are still not recognized.
Strong political will is necessary on both sides to make progress, Abdi said. “We are firm in our position, and the other side must also assume its responsibility.”
Mechanism of integration into the army
As for the mechanisms for integrating the SDF into the Syrian Arab Army, Abdi said such issues cannot be discussed through the media, as military matters are not topics to be aired publicly by either side.
He added that the SDF is a force comprising all the components of northeastern Syria, and that thousands of people from outside the region also serve in its ranks. The SDF has worked with the International Coalition for more than ten years and has gained experience in countering the Islamic State group. It is now the largest organized force in Syria.
The SDF should join the Syrian Arab Army in an orderly way, he said, as this would strengthen the Syrian army, increase its manpower and capabilities with the SDF’s experience, and achieve peace between the two.
No one should be afraid, Abdi argued. On the contrary, “this will be positive, because the SDF wants to protect its gains, and the work of its fighters will not go to waste. They will join the army in a manner befitting their sacrifices and will play an important role in it.” The remaining details, he added, will be discussed within the negotiations.
Contacts with Abdullah Öcalan
Abdi explained that there is communication with Abdullah Öcalan, the leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), through official channels, and that letters are exchanged between him and officials in Rojava, the Kurdish-led region in northeastern Syria, regarding certain issues, including the future of PKK fighters in the north.
He added, “Öcalan wants to meet Rojava officials, and we believe this meeting would be positive for solving problems and strengthening the peace process.”
Regarding a possible visit to Turkey, Abdi said they do not see any objection to that. “As long as this contributes to a solution, why should we not go? We view this positively,” he said.
What is the March 10 agreement?
On 10 March, Syria’s president in the transitional phase, Ahmad al-Sharaa, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces reached an agreement stipulating the integration of the SDF into Syrian state institutions.
The agreement provides guarantees for all Syrians to enjoy representation and participation in the political process and in all state institutions on the basis of competence, regardless of their religious or ethnic background.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Kurdish community is recognized as an indigenous component of the Syrian state, and the state guarantees its citizenship and constitutional rights.
The parties agreed to a ceasefire across all Syrian territory, and to integrate civilian and military institutions in northeastern Syria into the Syrian state administration, including border crossings and oil and gas fields.
Al-Sharaa also agreed with Mazloum Abdi to guarantee the return of all displaced Syrians to their towns and villages and to ensure their protection by the Syrian state, as well as to support the Syrian state in its fight against the remnants of Assad and all threats that endanger its security and unity.
Thousands of former regime remnants in SDF ranks
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