First round of meetings between the government committee and the Syrian Democratic Forces concludes

Based on the agreement signed between the Syrian government and the Syrian

Democratic Forces (SDF), the first round of meetings between the Syrian government committee and the SDF concluded at the Shaddadi military base in Hasakah countryside.

The meetings were chaired on behalf of the Syrian government by former Deir ez-Zor Governor Hussein Salama, and on behalf of the SDF by Mazloum Abdi.

The meetings lasted two hours and they will be a prelude to future meetings. The atmosphere of the meetings was positive.

Discussions focused on the constitutional declaration and the need to ensure that no group is excluded from shaping Syria’s future.

The need for a complete ceasefire was also emphasized.

Head of the government committee tasked with finalizing the agreement with the SDF, Hussein al-Salama told Syria TV: “We began our work by visiting one of the SDF headquarters in al-Shaddadi and talks were based on national responsibility and a shared will to achieve the unity of Syrian territory and include all components of Syrian people without excluding anyone”.

He added that in the first meeting, it was agreed to form several specialized working committees that will begin work by the beginning of next April.

“We express our gratitude to the friendly countries that support the unity and stability of Syria,” al-Salama said, emphasizing that the situation in the northeast of the country is an internal Syrian affair.

Any talks on northeast Syria is part of a purely national process, he clarified.

“We deny circulatef reports about side meetings with any other party”, he said, pointing out that the committee’s work is limited to bringing viewpoints closer and preparing a roadmap for the unity of Syrian territory.

“Our efforts are purely national and under the umbrella of the national interest,” he stressed.

Nada Haj Khidr