Kurdish Unity Conference in Qamishlo Approves Formation of Joint Delegation for Talks with Damascus

By Ahora Qadi

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdish Unity and Solidarity Conference, convened today in Qamishlo, northeast Syria (Western Kurdistan), concluded its proceedings with a landmark decision to establish a joint Kurdish delegation tasked with initiating negotiations with Damascus.

In a significant development for Kurdish political efforts in Syria, more than 400 participants, including representatives from Kurdish political parties, civil society organizations, women’s movements, and independent community figures from across Kurdish areas in Syria, gathered to forge a unified Kurdish position for the future of Syria.

The Kurdish National Council in Syria (KNCS) and the Democratic Union Party (PYD) served as the principal actors of the conference, each delegating 130 members. The event also saw participation from political and civic personalities as guests, in addition to prominent delegations from the Kurdistan Region, led by Dr. Hamid Darbandi, envoy of President Masoud Barzani, and representatives from the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party, as well as the Democratic Regions Party.

Embracing a Unified Kurdish Vision

The conference adopted a joint Kurdish political vision, marking a significant step towards securing a just and lasting solution to the Kurdish question within a united, democratic, and decentralized Syria.

Reading the final communique, KNCS head Muhammed Ismail declared that the conference endorsed the common Kurdish document as a foundational charter, articulating collective Kurdish will and offering a realistic framework for resolving the Kurdish issue within a pluralistic Syrian identity, where Kurdish national rights are enshrined in the constitution.

The document stresses commitment to international human rights conventions, the empowerment of women across political, social, and military institutions, and the preservation of Syria’s diverse cultural, religious, and national fabric.

Formation of a Joint Delegation

In a critical move, the conference resolved to form a unified Kurdish delegation at the earliest opportunity. The delegation will pursue translating the conference’s resolutions into political action, engaging in dialogue with relevant Syrian parties to secure Kurdish rights and ensure meaningful participation in shaping the country’s future.

"This vision is intended to serve as the basis for Kurdish political dialogue among themselves and with the new administration in Damascus, as well as with other Syrian national forces," the communique read, emphasizing the commitment to building a Syria that guarantees rights and dignity for all its components without exclusion or discrimination.

A Call for Constitutional Recognition

The unified Kurdish document outlines essential principles for Syria’s reconstruction, including:

Recognition of Syria as a multiethnic, multicultural, and multireligious state.
A decentralized governance model ensuring fair distribution of power and wealth.
Full constitutional equality between men and women and the recognition of the Kurdish language as an official language alongside Arabic.
Guaranteeing freedom of religion, the official recognition of Yazidism, and safeguarding the cultural and linguistic rights of all communities.
Reversing demographic engineering policies imposed under previous regimes, ensuring the safe return of displaced Kurds, and restoring national unity based on justice and equal citizenship.
A New Era Following the Fall of Authoritarianism

The conference marks a pivotal moment following the downfall of the authoritarian regime in Damascus in December 2024, a regime that for decades suppressed the Syrian people’s freedoms and devastated the country.

The Kurdish people, having endured decades of oppression and contributed immensely to the broader Syrian struggle through sacrifices and steadfast resistance, now stand poised to assert their role in building a new, democratic Syria.

The conference also reaffirmed that Kurdish unity is intrinsically linked to the unity of Syrian territory and stressed that Kurdish strength is a pillar of Syria’s future strength.