Syria Withdraws from Paris Talks with Kurds

The Syrian government has announced it will not take part in any further negotiations with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), including upcoming meetings in Paris, following a major conference hosted by the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration in north-east Syria.

Damascus described the gathering as a blow to ongoing dialogue efforts.

The conference, held on Friday in the city of Hasakah, featured speeches via video link from Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, a prominent Druze spiritual leader of the town of Sweida, and Sheikh Ghazal al-Ghazal, head of Syria’s Alawite Islamic Council.

In its closing statement, the meeting called for a comprehensive Syrian national conference that would bring together a broad range of national and democratic forces.

In a statement carried by the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the government said the event, which brought together Kurdish figures alongside representatives from the Alawite and Druze minorities, undermined the dialogue process.

Damascus stressed that it would not attend any planned meetings in Paris and would refuse to negotiate with any party it sees as attempting to revive what it called the “era of the former regime” under any pretext.

The Syrian government strongly condemned the hosting of what it termed separatist figures involved in hostile actions, labelling the move a clear violation of the 10 March agreement. It held the SDF and its leadership fully responsible for the consequences of this path.