ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria (Rojava) on Sunday reiterated its call for a “decentralized Syria” built on democratic and pluralistic foundations, while firmly rejecting accusations of separatist ambitions and reaffirming its “unequivocal” commitment to Syria’s territorial unity. The statement comes amid ongoing negotiations with the interim government in Damascus.
In a statement released Sunday, the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) stated, “For decades, Syrians suffered under a centralized system that monopolized power and wealth” and “dragged the country into repeated crises.
“Today, we aspire to be genuine partners in building a new Syria - a decentralized state that embraces all its people and guarantees their rights equally,” DAANES said.
The Rojava administration further emphasized that its calls for “a pluralistic democratic system” are longstanding, while reaffirming that the unity of Syrian territory is “a non-negotiable principle and a constant pillar” of its vision, warning that politicizing this issue “only serves those who seek to undermine the prospects of a political solution.”
Following a swift offensive in December, a coalition of opposition groups - then headed by the now-dissolved Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) under Ahmed al-Sharaa - toppled the regime of longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad.Sharaa. Sharaa was appointed interim president in January, vowing to lead an inclusive political transition.
However, in the months that followed, the interim government's policies have drawn criticism from minority groups, including the Kurds, who accuse it of exclusion and centralization.
A key breakthrough came in early March, when Sharaa and Mazloum Abdi, commander of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), signed an agreement to integrate the Kurdish-led force, which serves as the de facto army in Rojava.
The accord also outlined the integration of “all civil and military institutions” in Rojava under the Syrian state, including border crossings, Qamishli International Airport, and oil and gas fields.
Since then, multiple rounds of talks have been held between DAANES and Syrian government delegations, with participation from US and French envoys. While these talks have made some headway, a core disagreement continues to stall further progress.
Damascus maintains that DAANES’s administrative and military structures must be fully absorbed into a centralized state, adhering to the principle of “one Syria, one army, one government.”
In contrast, the Kurdish parties in Rojava are advocating for a decentralized, democratic Syria that preserves the autonomy and institutions developed in Rojava over the past decade.
In its Sunday statement, DAANES welcomed the latest meetings with the Syrian government - held in the presence of US and French representatives - as “a crucial step toward launching a serious Syrian-Syrian dialogue.” It also expressed “sincere thanks and gratitude” to both countries for their “constructive role and continuous efforts in supporting stability, peace, and democracy in Syria.”
The Kurdish-led administration also reiterated its call for the drafting of a new constitution “that guarantees the rights of all components” of Syrian society.
In mid-March, Sharaa signed a 53-article constitutional declaration that enshrines Islamic jurisprudence, requires the president to be Muslim, and outlines a five-year transitional period.
The document retains the country’s name as the Syrian Arab Republic and grants sweeping powers to the president, including exclusive executive authority, the ability to appoint one-third of the legislature, and control over appointments to the constitutional court - the only body capable of holding the president accountable.
Kurdish groups in Rojava quickly rejected the declaration, arguing that any constitution must emerge from a genuine national consensus, not be imposed unilaterally.
Of note, the DAANES statement came a day after a senior official in Rojava’s ruling party warned on Saturday that the interim government’s approach to integration amounts to an effort to “dissolve the institutions” of the DAANES and strip it of its political and administrative roles.
Fawza Youssef, a member of the presidential body of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), further stated that DAANES’s model - established over the past 13 years - should not be viewed as "an obstacle, but as a pillar for strengthening Syria's power and cohesion” and a cornerstone for rebuilding a democratic Syria.