SDC: Türkiye’s Peace Process Could Positively Influence Developments in Syria

ANHA

Hassan Muhammad Ali, Head of the SDC’s Relations Office.

The ongoing peace process in Türkiye has opened a new chapter for the region—one that could bring about positive changes in Syria, according to a senior official from the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), the political wing of the pro-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).

Hassan Muhammad Ali, Head of the SDC’s Relations Office, told North Press that Türkiye appears to have reached a pivotal understanding: that the Kurdish question cannot be resolved through military means, but must instead be addressed through dialogue.

In February, Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) Abdullah Öcalan—imprisoned in Türkiye for the past 26 years—declared the beginning of a new phase in the peace process and expressed his support for an initiative launched by Devlet Bahçeli, leader of Türkiye's Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), at the end of 2024.

Subsequently, on 11 May 2025, the PKK issued the final communiqué of its 12th congress, held between 5–7 May 2025. The statement announced the dissolution of the PKK’s organisational structure and the official cessation of its armed struggle.

Observers anticipate that the Turkish government may introduce legal reforms in the coming period that could pave the way for a peaceful resolution to the long-standing Kurdish conflict—a conflict that has cost tens of thousands of lives on both sides over several decades.

“We at the Syrian Democratic Council are hopeful that the evolution of this dialogue, and the eventual initiation of negotiations and resolution of the Kurdish issue in Türkiye, will have positive repercussions for Syria,” said Muhammad Ali.

He added that one of the most significant potential outcomes would be the end of Türkiye’s long-standing justification for viewing northeastern Syria as a national security threat.

“Northeast Syria will no longer be seen as a threat to Turkish national security but as a potential partner in cooperation based on mutual interests,” he noted.

Addressing the situation in Syria, Muhammad Ali stressed: “We did not wage war against the central authority. In northeast Syria, our struggle has been against the Islamic State (ISIS) and terrorism.”

On the subject of talks with Damascus, he highlighted ongoing efforts to implement the agreement signed in March between Syria’s Transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Mazloum Abdi, Commander-in-Chief of the SDF.

“Syria has endured decades of oppression and persecution,” Muhammad Ali remarked. “The transitional authority in Damascus also suffers from numerous vulnerabilities, particularly those linked to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Therefore, while the path forward will be fraught with challenges, we must collectively find ways to overcome them and steer Syria towards stability.”

He concluded by reaffirming the SDC’s commitment to constructive engagement despite contradictions, emphasising the Council’s ambition to be a genuine partner in shaping Syria’s future.

“All our policies and efforts are aimed at building a better Syria—a democratic, pluralistic, and decentralised state that belongs to all Syrians,” he said.

This article was originally published by the North Press Agency, and was edited by PUKMEDIA.


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