ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Mazloum Abdi, commander-in-chief of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), is leading a delegation to Damascus on Monday for talks with government officials on the integration process, an informed source said, days after Abdi announced the process had been completed.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Rudaw’s Viviyan Fetah that Elham Ahmed, head of northeast Syria’s (Rojava) department of foreign relations, is also accompanying Abdi.
Media affiliated with the SDF also reported the visit.
The SDF chief announced on Thursday that the process of integrating Rojava’s military, security and civilian structures into the Syrian army and state institutions had been completed, a move welcomed by Damascus.
During an exclusive interview with Rudaw aired on Saturday, Abdi emphasized that the SDF will not be dissolved, but that its structure will change into brigades affiliated with the Syrian army. He added that the integrated forces will remain in Rojava to defend the region.
Abdi also said that Kurdish education has been a priority in talks with Damascus, reiterating that they will not accept Kurdish as an optional language in Rojava but want it to remain the main language of instruction. He said they were open to Arabic being taught alongside Kurdish in the region, as proposed by the government.
Ahead of Monday’s visit, Ahmed said in a post on X that “Education in one’s mother tongue is a fundamental right of every people. Languages are creations of God the Merciful. They must not be banned, nor should their sanctity be diminished.”
She added, “We believe that by recognizing these fundamental rights, Syria can become a model of justice, stability, and peace in the region.”
Abdi said during the Rudaw interview that there has been progress in talks with Damascus on recognizing Kurdish as a language of instruction, adding that the government has formed a committee to resolve the matter.
Kurdish has been the language of instruction in Rojava since the establishment of the autonomous administration 15 years ago.
The interim government in Damascus recognized Kurdish as a “national language” in January.
