Russia calls on Kurdish parties to negotiate with Syrian regime

QAMISHLO, Syrian Kurdistan (Kurdistan24) - Representatives of Syrian Kurdish parties reportedly met with Syrian regime officials earlier this week in Russia's Khmeimim air base located in Syria's Latakia province, a Kurdish official in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava) said on Monday.

A Kurdish official of Syria's Rojava PYD-led ruling council (TEV-DEM) who spoke to Kurdistan24 on condition of anonymity said Russian official military and political officials called 24 Syrian Kurdish parties for a series of meetings in Latakia with a delegation of the Syrian regime.

He stated that the purpose of these meetings was to have a united Syrian Kurdish delegation that represents all Syrian Kurdish forces and parties in any conference about the Syrian crisis.

Other parties not included in TEV-DEM council accepted the Russian initiative and confirmed they are going to attend the meetings.

Speaking to Kurdistan24, Talal Mohammad, co-chair of Syria's Kurdish Peace party, said the Russian initiative did not intend on meeting the Syrian regime delegation.

"Forming a Kurdish delegation was not for negotiating with the Syrian regime only, but for the future of the Kurds [in Syria]," he said.

Mohammad further pointed out that when a conference is held in Geneva for tackling the Syrian crisis, Russia will have a significant role in supporting the Kurdish participation.

However, Syria's Kurdish National Council (ENKS), which has been in tense relations with the PYD, rejected the Russian invitation.

ENKS officials believe meeting Russian officials in Syria is useless, especially under the supervision of the Syrian regime.

They confirm they are not against any peace-seeking dialogue, but such meetings should be under international supervision.   

Speaking to Kurdistan24, Hesen Saleh, ENKS senior official in Qamishlo, said calling for a meeting at this hard time is not appropriate.

"[Meeting the Russian officials] should be outside Syria, because this is a critical time and everything is complicated, given the crimes committed by the Syrian regime," he said.

ENKS officials believe under the ongoing fighting in Syria no solution can be reached, and stated they won't attend any meeting inside Syria.

On Sep. 19, Kurdistan24 learned from activists that nine Syrian Kurdish parties secretly met Syrian regime officials at the Khmeimim air base.

Rojava officials have so far refused to comment on the meetings with the Syrian regime.

Editing by Ava Homa

(Ferhad Ehme contributed to this report from Qamishlo)