Heated discussions in Damascus meeting as Transitional Government clings to centralization

Yesterday, a meeting was held in Damascus between representatives of North and East Syria and representatives of the Transitional Government in Syria, attended by representatives from the United States and France, and it was described as positive.

Foza Youssef, Co-chair of the North and East Syria delegation, stated in an interview with Ronahi TV that “the meeting was positive, and the talks will continue,” despite the clear disagreements that emerged during the session.

For his part, U.S. Special Envoy to Syria, Thomas Barrack, described the meeting as a “significant step,” adding, “The Syrian Democratic Forces must be integrated into Syria and the army.”

Meanwhile, the Transitional Government issued a statement saying: “We remain committed to the principle of one Syria, one army, and one government, and we categorically reject all forms of division or federalism.”

Despite the positive statements following the meeting, informed sources reported that the session included sharp debates and fundamental disagreements between the two sides.

According to information from both parties, the Transitional Government insisted on centralization, demanding the transfer of all institutions, bodies, and military forces to the authority of the central government. The Autonomous Administration delegation objected to this, stating that such a move ignores the will of the peoples of North and East Syria and does not reflect the spirit of consensus reached in the March 10 Agreement.

Sources added that the Transitional Government delegation does not recognize the Autonomous Administration as Syrian institutions or as part of Syria, noting that they are proceeding unilaterally with steps such as forming a government, holding the National Conference, and establishing a People’s Assembly without including the Autonomous Administration.

In contrast, the representatives of North and East Syria affirmed that they are part of Syria and rejected anti-democratic practices, stressing the need for participation at all levels of national work and the guarantee of rights for all components.

They also openly questioned the nature of the Syria the Transitional Government seeks to build, asserting their desire for a Syria that is inclusive of all, according to their identities and nature.

The North and East Syria representatives pointed out that many individuals were recently arrested in Aleppo merely for being Kurdish or for alleged cooperation with the Syrian Democratic Forces, stressing that exclusion and targeting do not serve the goal of building a democratic state.

During the meeting, the North and East Syria delegation also highlighted that their regions face systematic hate speech and divisive rhetoric originating from areas under Transitional Government control. They called for democracy to be the foundation, not exclusionary centralism.

The delegation also proposed cooperation on security, reconstruction, and the formation of joint working groups aimed at achieving sustainable peace and comprehensive justice in the country. However, the Transitional Government has so far evaded these proposals.

No information was provided regarding the stance of the U.S. or French representatives on what transpired during the closed-door session.

A-H 

ANHA