Paris to Host Decisive Syrian-Kurdish Meeting to Advance 'March Agreement'

Important talks will kick off in the French capital, Paris, next Friday between the Syrian government and the Kurdish 'Self-Administration,' with the participation of the US envoy to Syria, Thomas Barak, and the French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Baro. This step aims to expedite the implementation of the 'March 10 Agreement' regarding the integration of the 'SDF' forces and the structures of the 'Self-Administration' within the Syrian state institutions.

The Syrian Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Shaaban, leads the Damascus delegation, while on the Kurdish side, the 'SDF' commander, Mazloum Abdi, the Head of Foreign Relations in the 'Self-Administration,' Ilham Ahmed, and the head of the negotiating delegation, Fawza Yusuf, are participating.

This meeting is a continuation of a series of previous meetings, most notably the Amman meeting that brought together the US envoy, the Syrian minister, and the 'SDF' commander in positive atmospheres, according to Kurdish sources. It is also the third meeting between the parties during the current July, as part of monitoring the implementation of the agreement signed between the Syrian President, Ahmed al-Shar'a, and Mazloum Abdi last March.

France plays a key role as a mediator in these negotiations, benefiting from its historical relations with the Syrian parties and its previous role in supporting the 'SDF' during its war against 'ISIS.' Sources expect the announcement of 'significant steps' during the conference to implement the agreement in a way that meets 'the aspirations of the Syrian people and the sacrifices of our regions'.

The Amman meeting helped overcome negotiation obstacles after the first round stumbled in Damascus early July, where it was agreed at that time to hold a military meeting between the 'SDF' and the Syrian Ministry of Defense, establish joint border management, and resume the work of state institutions in the areas of the 'Self-Administration' with a priority on the return of displaced persons, especially from Afrin, Ras al-Ain, and Tell Abyad.

Regarding the military aspect, preliminary understandings indicate that the 'SDF' will retain its military specificity within a unified force, with its forces deployed in Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and Hasakah without changing their current locations. On the political level, sources confirm that discussions about an official position for Mazloum Abdi in the Syrian state institutions are still 'premature,' as it first requires a legal framework to integrate the institutions of the 'Self-Administration' and its employees within the Syrian state.

It is worth noting that the first meeting between the two parties was held at Tishreen Palace in Damascus in the presence of senior Syrian officials, Kurdish leaders, and the US and French envoys, while Turkey followed the meeting from a separate room without direct participation.