PKK/YPG affiliates excluded from Syria National Dialogue Conference

The preparatory committee for the upcoming Syria National Dialogue Conference has confirmed that affiliates of the PKK/YPG terrorist group, including the SDF and the PYD, will not be included in the event.

Exclusion of PKK/YPG and its affiliates

Hassan al-Dughaim, spokesperson for the preparatory committee, stated that the PKK terrorist group’s Syrian offshoot PYD, the so-called political wing of the SDF, should be dissolved along with its military structure.

“The military and political wings of the SDF are closely linked. If the military wing is dissolved, the political wing automatically ceases to exist,” Dughaim said.

The committee, established by Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, is responsible for determining the agenda, participant criteria, and the timeline for the conference.

Dughaim emphasized that groups affiliated with military factions or those who have supported the former Bashar al-Assad regime’s actions, including the use of barrel bombs and human rights violations, will not be invited.

Key topics on conference agenda

Dughaim outlined the primary topics to be discussed at the conference:

• Syria’s unity and security
• Drafting a new constitution
• Transitional justice mechanisms
• Accountability for war crimes
• Economic reforms and social welfare

He also noted that the preparatory committee will conduct direct engagements with citizens across various provinces, including meetings with universities, municipalities, civil society organizations, professional unions, and local administrators.

No negotiations with SDF or military groups

Responding to questions about whether the committee had engaged in dialogue with the SDF, Dughaim clarified that the committee had no plans to do so.

“The Syrian government has held discussions with the SDF, but no agreements have been reached so far. The committee has not and will not engage with the SDF or any other military factions. Our dialogue is directly with the Syrian people,” he said.

Inclusion of Kurdish representatives

Dughaim stressed that the conference will not recognize the SDF as the sole representative of Syria’s Kurdish population.

“We reject the notion that the SDF is the only voice of the Kurdish people. Many Kurdish fighters have fought alongside the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and have sacrificed for Syria’s freedom. Anyone who is honest, patriotic, and committed to Syria’s unity is welcome to participate,” he said.

However, individuals with separatist agendas or military affiliations will not be included.

“The conference will not include any separatist discussions or any topic that threatens Syria’s neighbors, particularly Türkiye, which has always been a strong supporter of the Syrian people,” he said.