Damascus understandings: Kurdish language; key positions on table

A military, security, and administrative delegation from Hasakah arrived in the capital, Damascus. The delegation is headed by Mazloum Abdi, General Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and Ilham Ahmed, Co-Chair of the Department of Foreign Relations of the Autonomous Administration. It also includes Newroz Ahmed, a member of the General Command of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), Samir Oso, Deputy Minister of Defense for Eastern Region Affairs, along with a number of security leaders.

The visit comes as part of ongoing meetings concerning the implementation of the January 29 agreement and the transition to the new phase announced by Abdi.

Since yesterday, Abdi and Ilham Ahmed have held a series of meetings in Damascus, including a meeting with Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and, today, a meeting with the head of the Syrian transitional government, Ahmed al-Sharaa.

A security meeting was also held today at the Ministry of Interior, bringing together security leaders from Hasakah Governorate and officials from the Syrian transitional government. The meeting focused on executive arrangements related to completing the process of integration into the state’s security institutions.

Newroz Ahmed, a member of the General Command of the Women’s Protection Units, also met with Ahmed al-Sharaa, with Mazloum Abdi participating, to discuss the future of the units.

In the context of the political meetings, sources reported that Damascus proposed to Mazloum Abdi that he take up the position of an adviser responsible for the Kurdish affairs portfolio within the Syrian presidency, and pressed him to assume a place within the presidential team.

The information also indicated that Ilham Ahmed may assume a senior position within the Syrian transitional government. At the same time, an agreement was reportedly reached on the adoption of the Kurdish language in education by translating five to six subjects from the curriculum into Kurdish alongside Arabic. Sources also indicated that an agreement had been reached to integrate the Women’s Protection Units into the Ministry of Interior.

The information circulating also includes arrangements concerning the distribution of responsibilities within government and security institutions, as well as mechanisms for completing implementation of the remaining provisions of the January 29 agreement, particularly following Mazloum Abdi’s announcement of a transition to a “new phase” after the completion of military, security, and administrative integration.

However, these reports, including the proposed position for Mazloum Abdi, the position that Ilham Ahmed may assume, the integration of the Women’s Protection Units, and the status of the Kurdish language in education have not yet received official confirmation from either the Syrian transitional government or the Autonomous Administration and the Syrian Democratic Forces.

According to sources, the Syrian transitional government is preparing to issue a statement or a series of decisions officially revealing the results of the meetings held in Damascus since yesterday, as well as the understandings reached regarding the Kurdish issue and the status of the Kurdish language, in addition to the nature of the positions and responsibilities that the various figures and leaders will assume.

ANHA