{"id":37830,"date":"2025-05-05T07:33:59","date_gmt":"2025-05-05T07:33:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/?p=37830"},"modified":"2025-05-05T07:33:59","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T07:33:59","slug":"head-of-the-kurdish-national-council-in-syria-damascus-lack-genuine-will-to-recognize-kurdish-rights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/05\/05\/2025\/head-of-the-kurdish-national-council-in-syria-damascus-lack-genuine-will-to-recognize-kurdish-rights\/","title":{"rendered":"Head of the Kurdish National Council in Syria: Damascus Lack Genuine Will to Recognize Kurdish Rights"},"content":{"rendered":"

The recent Kurdish\u2013Kurdish agreement comes at a pivotal moment for Syria, a time marked by rapid internal shifts and deepening regional geopolitical challenges. It\u2019s being viewed as a serious effort to rebuild unity within the fragmented Kurdish ranks and affirm the Kurds\u2019 role as a key political player in shaping Syria\u2019s future.<\/span><\/p>\n

While the agreement carries hope and symbolic significance, it also raises complex questions. Can it hold amid growing regional and international tensions? What role will the Kurds ultimately play in any final political settlement in Syria? And how far can any consensus go with the emerging power structure in Damascus?<\/span><\/p>\n

In this exclusive interview with \u201c<\/span>+963<\/b>,\u201d <\/span>Mohammad Ismail<\/b>, head of the Kurdish National Council (KNC), discusses the importance and implications of the agreement, the Council\u2019s upcoming priorities, the conditions for any understanding with the Syrian regime, and the possible paths forward for the Kurds if talks stall. Ismail emphasizes that \u201cthis agreement reflects a Kurdish attempt to stay united in the face of the looming regional storm.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Read also: Syrian Presidency Issues Statement on Kurdish Unity Conference\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

He also notes, \u201cIt\u2019s still too early to say that the new authorities in Damascus are genuinely willing to fully recognize Kurdish rights or seriously consider decentralization,\u201d adding that general statements about \u201crights for all\u201d remain vague promises that have yet to translate into any concrete steps.<\/span><\/p>\n

How do you evaluate the Kurdish\u2013Kurdish agreement considering current changes within Syria? And how does it relate to broader regional dynamics?<\/b><\/h2>\n

This agreement represents a major step forward in trying to restructure Kurdish internal affairs, especially between political forces that have long been divided by ideological rivalry, like the Kurdish National Council and the Democratic Union Party (PYD). While past attempts didn\u2019t always lead to lasting results, today\u2019s moment is unique. It demands Kurdish unity both politically and nationally.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the Kurdish National Council, we don\u2019t see this as a short-term tactic. It\u2019s a national imperative. The changes following the fall of the previous regime, shifts in internal power balances, and growing discussions around new regional arrangements all make a unified Kurdish stance critical to ensuring we\u2019re not marginalized in any future settlement.<\/span><\/p>\n

This agreement, in our view, is a serious attempt to stay unified amid potential pressures or exclusion. It\u2019s a conscious response to regional transformations, where international deals are being made and zones of influence redrawn. That makes a unified Kurdish voice vital, both to express our people\u2019s aspirations and to coordinate with Syria\u2019s other communities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read also: Kurdish Unity Conference Calls for Democratic, Decentralized Syria<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

What are the Council\u2019s top priorities if meaningful dialogue with Damascus begins?<\/b><\/h2>\n

We have a set of political and rights-based priorities that are non-negotiable and will form the foundation of any future negotiations:<\/span><\/p>\n