Over 400 delegates from Kurdish regions across Syria, Iraq, and Turkey gathered in Qamishli on Saturday for the Rojava Kurdish Unity and Common Stance Conference, a key gathering aimed at promoting political unity and advocating for a decentralized, democratic Syria. The conference, held in Azadî (Freedom) Park, represents an important step towards coordinating Kurdish efforts both within Syria and across borders, following extensive dialogue between different political groups.

The conference concluded with a declaration presented by Foza Yûsif of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and Mihemed İsmail of the Kurdish National Council in Syria (ENKS). The declaration calls for a decentralized Syria that recognizes Kurdish rights within a pluralistic framework and strongly rejects the centralized models of governance that prevailed before 2011. Participants agreed to form a joint Kurdish delegation to engage with Syria’s new government and other national forces, aiming to secure constitutional guarantees for Kurdish rights, women’s freedoms, and multi-ethnic governance.

“The Unity Conference aims to shape a new Syria where the rights of all communities are protected,” the statement said, emphasizing the need for dialogue with Damascus.

Following the fall of Syria’s Ba’ath regime in December 2024, the new HTS-influenced government excluded the Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria (AANES) from the National Dialogue Conference, leading to widespread Kurdish condemnation. Historically marginalized, Kurds see this moment as an important opportunity to address longstanding issues, building on 15 years of multi-ethnic governance in Northeast Syria, where Kurds, Arabs, and Assyrians have coexisted under the AANES.

The conference also sought to bridge long-standing divisions within the Kurdish community. The recent warming of relations between the PYD and ENKS, along with the support of the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) and messages from Kurdish leaders Mesûd Barzanî (PDK), Zeynep Murad (KNK), Keskin Bayındır (DBP) and Emin Babaşêx (YNK), reflect a growing rapprochement among Kurdish factions encouraged by U.S. mediation.

Key figures, including Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi, emphasized the conference’s role in uniting Kurds while strengthening Syria as a whole.

As Turkey engages in renewed peace talks with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), the conference’s emphasis on democratic confederalism aligns with the ongoing peace process and raises hopes for a resolution to the long-standing Kurdish issue in Turkey.

The outcomes of the Qamishli conference could significantly reshape Kurdish prospects in Syria, as delegates strive to present a unified front to protect their gains and secure a democratic, decentralized future amid the region’s volatile transition.

The conference’s full “Joint Political Vision” document can be read here: https://x.com/RojavaIC/status/1916602708741558575