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The Media Line: Damascus Rejected Participation in Paris Meetings, Says Kurds Undermined Agreement 

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Damascus Rejected Participation in Paris Meetings, Says Kurds Undermined Agreement 

A Syrian government official: Damascus refuses to negotiate with any party seeking to restore the ‘former regime’ under any guise or name  

By Rizik Alabi/The Media Line  

[Damascus] A Syrian government source confirmed to The Media Line on Saturday evening that Damascus will not participate in any scheduled meetings in Paris with the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The source described the “Unified Position” conference held by the SDF in Al-Hasakah as an attempt to derail the March 10 ceasefire agreement and obstruct negotiation efforts among Syrian parties. 

On March 10, 2025, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi signed a ceasefire agreement covering all of Syria. The deal included government recognition of the Kurdish community as an integral part of the Syrian state, guaranteeing its civil and constitutional rights. The agreement aimed to contain tensions in northeastern Syria following years of armed conflict and security instability. 

After months of clashes between local groups and multiple forces, a consultation round in Paris between the Syrian government and the SDF was agreed upon to complete the agreement’s implementation. The talks were to focus on integrating civil and military institutions into the state framework and restoring stability in disputed areas. 

A government source, who requested anonymity, emphasized that the Syrian government refuses to negotiate with any party seeking to restore the “former regime” under any guise or name. He insisted that all negotiations must take place in Damascus, “the sole legitimate and national address for dialogue among Syrians.” 

The source added that last week’s Al-Hasakah conference, organized by the SDF with religious and tribal figures from As-Suwayda and the Syrian coast, represents a clear breach of the ceasefire agreement. It was described as an effort to solicit foreign intervention and impose new sanctions on Syria. 

He characterized the conference as a fragile alliance of parties harmed by the Syrian people’s victory and the downfall of the previous regime, stating it is not a comprehensive national framework. 

He further asserted that the conference was a way to avoid fulfilling institutional integration and ceasefire obligations and acts as a cover for the “systematic demographic change” policies carried out by “extremist Kurdish currents,” according to his description. 

 Last Friday, the SDF organized a conference titled “Unified Position for the Components of Northeastern Syria” in Al-Hasakah, attended by religious and tribal figures including Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hajri, the spiritual leader of the Druze community in As-Suwayda, and Ghazal Ghazal, head of the Supreme Alawite Islamic Council in Syria, who participated via video call. 

The final statement issued by the participants called for drafting a new democratic constitution based on a decentralized system that respects the cultural and religious particularities of Syria’s communities. It also advocated for broad decentralized administration across different regions — a demand conflicting with the central government’s vision. 

Dr. Samer Al-Jundi, a researcher specializing in political and security affairs, told The Media Line that ongoing conferences held outside the state framework complicate stabilization efforts in northeastern Syria and open the door to foreign interventions that harm the country’s sovereignty. 

“This is not merely a political dispute but a matter of national sovereignty and rejecting any form of division or demographic alteration,” Al-Jundi said. 

From a legal perspective, Dr. Nihad al-Hussein, professor of international law at Damascus University, told The Media Line that any negotiation or agreement must be conducted solely through legitimate state institutions. Any moves outside this framework constitute a “clear violation of international law and state sovereignty.” 

“Agreements made outside the state framework, especially those promoting decentralized administration beyond government oversight, threaten Syria’s unity and political stability,” al-Hussein said. 

A spokesperson for the Syrian Ministry of Information told The Media Line that the new government aims to cement the rule of law and ensure the unity of Syrian lands with all their components. It will not hesitate to take legal action against any party threatening this goal. 

The spokesperson said, “The government believes that comprehensive national dialogue is the only way to resolve the crisis, and any meetings or negotiations must be within legitimate frameworks that guarantee the unity of the people and the state.” 

He added that the government continues implementing the transitional justice process it initiated, along with the national dialogue launched last February, which includes the formation of a transitional justice body tasked with addressing past violations as a step toward national reconciliation. 

Analysts note that Damascus’s refusal to attend Paris meetings with the SDF places the March agreement at a crossroads, raising questions about the parties’ seriousness in implementing its provisions. 

Political analyst Mazen Khoury told The Media Line that the main challenge lies in the government’s and SDF’s ability to overcome political differences and conflicting interests and to commit to what has been agreed upon, particularly in institutional integration and civil rights. 

Khoury added that the agreement’s success requires genuine political will from all parties and balanced international support, away from attempts to exploit the Syrian issue for external agendas. 

The Syrian crisis — especially in the northeast — remains a multifaceted battleground involving local, regional, and international forces. While the Syrian government insists all negotiations occur within the state framework, the SDF and some local groups continue holding events and conferences reflecting divergent visions, complicating the situation and threatening peace and stability efforts. 

The key question remains: Will the parties be able to overcome these obstacles for the sake of Syria’s unity and sovereignty, or will tensions push the country toward further division and strife? 

 

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