The ‘Syrian-Syrian Dialogue’ brought together authorities of Rojava and the self-autonomous northern Syrian federation as well as some independents and members of the Syrian opposition to discuss a future constitution, humanitarian issues, the rights of women, and the building blocks for a strong economy.
"We want to return it [our lands] to Syria with the condition that it is a new, different Syria from the current authoritarian regime," Riad Darar, co-chair of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), told Rudaw.
The SDC, the political wing of the armed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), hosted the conference in Ain Issa, 50 kilometres north of Raqqa. Darar said they wanted to showcase their political system of decentralization and demonstrate the security that exists in areas under their control.
The SDC and the Kurdish TEV-DEM coalition that governs Rojava are in control of more than a quarter of the country.
In the summer, an SDC delegation visited Damascus to begin talks about the future of the country. Those talks have stalled, but Darar said they ready to return to the table if the regime is more open to dialogue and understanding.
Syrian peace talks at the national and international level currently hinge on the issue of the constitution.
"Undoubtedly the topic of the constitution is one of the main axes of the crisis,” opposition member Fatih Jamos told Rudaw.
It is also “a method for resolution," he added, stressing the need to focus on unity – of the state and the nation.
"No one should unilaterally formulate the constitution and implement it on the ground before a general national discussion and agreement over it," he said.
While these discussions were happening in Ain Issa, UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura was lamenting the lack of an agreement on a constitutional committee at the Astana conference – a meeting of Russia, Iran, and Turkey with representatives from Damascus and the opposition.
But delegates in Ain Issa weren’t optimistic that international meetings like those in Astana or the UN-led Geneva process would find a solution.
The best solution is a Syrian solution that comes from Syrian dialogue, said opposition member Zahya al-Rashi.
She said the groups meeting in Ain Issa found common ground: "The majority had the opinion that there must be a democratic, pluralistic, and decentralized Syria.”
Representatives of TEV-DEM, which has been excluded from the international discussions despite their influence on the ground, agreed.
"Our conviction is that there can be no solution if the opposition forces don't come together and present a joint project to seek a solution," Aldar Khalil, head of TEV-DEM's public relations, told Rudaw.
The opposition forces that surrendered themselves to Turkey and Qatar have no influence left, he added.
Khalil’s organization has been left off the invite lists for Astana and Geneva at Turkey’s behest. He said that the Astana process doesn’t represent the desires of the people of Syria.
"We are among our people, on our soil. We are leading our revolution," said Khalil, denying they are under any international influence, including their military allies in Washington.
The SDF and Kurdish YPG and YPJ forces are fighting alongside the US-led coalition in the war against ISIS.
Damascus has condemned the American presence on the ground.
The SDC’s Darar said they didn’t invite the Americans into the country – they came because of the situation, namely the rise of ISIS.
If given a choice, Darar said they would choose to ally with the Syrian government rather that the US.
"When Syria is present, then there won't be Americans, Russians or Iranians left. No one,” he said.
When peace finally comes to the country, all the international forces – American, Russian, and Iranian – will leave, he added.
