'President Barzani’s Support Vital for Advancing Kurdish Unity in Western Kurdistan,' Ilham Ahmed
"We hear the voice of our people calling for unity and solidarity, and this conference is our response to that call," she said.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Ilham Ahmed, head of the Foreign Relations Department of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES), addressed the opening session of the Unity and Solidarity Conference in Qamishlo on Saturday with a powerful message, emphasizing the significance of the day not only for Western Kurdistan but for all parts of Kurdistan. "Today is a historic day, a day we have awaited for many long years," she declared.
Ahmed expressed gratitude for the presence and support of key Kurdish figures and organizations, highlighting the role of President Barzani's representative, Hamid Darbandi, whose attendance underscored the critical backing from the Kurdistan Region. She also acknowledged the long-standing support of Abdullah Ocalan from Imrali, and the contributions of various Kurdish parties and organizations committed to Kurdish unity.
"We want our political organizations to reach an agreement within a unified framework, especially now that Western Kurdistan has, after years of struggle and sacrifice, reached a stage where it must determine its own destiny," Ahmed said. She stressed that the Kurdish people would define their future within the framework of the Syrian state but emphasized the necessity of securing Kurdish national rights in Syria's new constitution.
Ahmed underlined the widespread backing from Kurds across all four parts of Kurdistan, noting that "President Barzani's strong support" had been vital in advancing the cause of Kurdish unity in Western Kurdistan. "We hear the voice of our people calling for unity and solidarity, and this conference is our response to that call," she said.
In a moment described as "historic" by Kurdish leaders, the long-anticipated Kurdish Unity and Solidarity Conference opened today, Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Qamishlo, Western Kurdistan, bringing together nearly 50 Kurdish political parties and more than 300 notable figures from across Syria. The event marks a turning point in efforts to consolidate the Kurdish political position and assert Kurdish rights in Syria's evolving future.
The conference aims to achieve a concrete result: the establishment of a joint Kurdish delegation empowered to negotiate directly with Syria's new government to secure recognition of Kurdish rights within a reconstituted Syrian state.
The political parties participating include key groups from the Kurdish National Council in Syria (ENKS), the Democratic Autonomous Administration, and additional independent parties. Delegates have traveled from across Western Kurdistan and northeastern Syria, as well as from cities such as Aleppo, Damascus, Azaz, Hama, and Al-Bab, reflecting a broad and representative Kurdish participation.
As discussions proceed, the atmosphere in Qamishlo is one of cautious optimism, with Kurdish leaders determined to turn decades of marginalization into a new chapter of political empowerment and national recognition within Syria. The success of this conference could mark a historic shift not only for Kurds in Syria but for the broader regional dynamic, with unity and solidarity at its core.
