Mazloum Abdi: Dialogue is Syria's path to solution, prevent return of centralization

The General Commander of the SDF, Mazloum Abdi, emphasized in his speech at the Middle East Peace and Security Forum (MEPS 2025) in Duhok that Syria has reached a stage where there is no place for war, and that dialogue is the only way to end the conflict that has lasted for more than 13 years.

He said Syrians have become well acquainted with war, and that the absence of dialogue was one of the main reasons for the collapse of the Baath regime. He emphasized that the SDF and the Autonomous Administration never chose war; rather, it was imposed upon them. He explained that what Syria needs today cannot be achieved through fighting, but through comprehensive national negotiations.

The March 10 Agreement… preventing partition and civil war

Abdi revealed that the March 10 Agreement marked an important turning point, blocking attempts to partition Syria and preventing it from sliding into civil war. He stressed that the agreement secured constitutional recognition of Kurdish rights, despite the partial mediation and complicated circumstances in which it was reached.

He noted that the current dialogue phase faces major obstacles, the most prominent being the lack of trust between the two sides, ongoing risks in Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods, and government measures that excluded various parties, creating additional concerns, as well as the failure to ensure the return of people forcibly displaced from their homes, such as those from Afrin, Tal Abyad, and Serê Kanye.

Despite this, he expressed confidence that the political will to implement the March 10 Agreement can succeed, affirming that North and East Syria possesses this will and supports its continuation, while calling on the transitional government in Syria, and neighboring countries, to demonstrate similarly clear steps.

Message to Turkey: We are not a threat to you

Abdi stressed that the Autonomous Administration and the SDF, with all their institutions in North and East Syria, pose no threat to any party. He addressed Turkey directly, saying:

“We ask our neighbor Turkey not to view our military, administrative, and security institutions as a threat. They are institutions of peace and security.”

He explained that the international community is leaning toward giving Syria “a new opportunity for dialogue,” and that the Autonomous Administration is ready to pursue this opportunity to the end. He called on all parties, especially Turkey, to grant the same opportunity to the dialogue between North and East Syria and the transitional government in order to resolve issues through negotiation.

Progress on military and security files… and the agreement will be announced soon

Regarding the progress of talks on the March 10 Agreement, Abdi said that work continues despite its weight and slow pace, and that the military and security files have seen major progress, with only “final details” remaining before the official, written, and signed announcement of the agreement by both sides.

As for files related to administration and the form of governance, they remain under negotiation. He affirmed that Syria will not return to centralized rule after 15 years of war, and that this matter is settled for the peoples of North and East Syria.

A call for Kurdish unity and an active role in reconstruction

Abdi called on political actors in Southern Kurdistan to play a larger role in supporting Kurdish unity and advancing the peace process in Turkey, in addition to supporting dialogue between North and East Syria and the transitional government.

He also urged Kurdish people in Southern Kurdistan, Northern Kurdistan, and abroad to actively contribute to Syria’s reconstruction phase, stressing that Kurds have a central role in building stability and peace in the region.

Abdi concluded by affirming that the SDF and the peoples of North and East Syria, supported by the International Coalition, made great sacrifices in defeating ISIS, and that the new phase requires broad political support to move toward a more stable and peaceful future for Syria and the region.

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ANHA