Syrian Kurdish commander wants to visit Turkey and meet Ocalan

The commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, said on Monday that he would like to visit Turkey and meet Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned founder of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Abdi told a Turkish news agency that his group supports the ongoing peace talks between Turkey and the PKK, which earlier this year announced its dissolution to give peace a chance.

Turkey views the US-backed SDF as the PKK’s branch in Syria and has designated Abdi and other senior leaders of the Syrian armed group as terrorists.

However, since last year, the Turkish government has been holding talks with Ocalan to seek a resolution to the 30-year conflict, in exchange for political amnesty and reforms aimed at strengthening Kurdish cultural rights.

When asked whether he would like to meet Ocalan in person, Abdi told Mezopotamya News Agency that the SDF leadership feels it is necessary to meet the PKK founder.

“Ocalan reportedly requested that officials from [Northern Syria] visit him,” he said. “We also feel the need for this. It would make a positive contribution both to the process and to resolving the issues in north and east Syria.”

Asked whether he personally considered visiting Turkey, Abdi said: “If this step will contribute positively to a solution, then why shouldn’t we go? We view it positively.”

'If this [visit to see Ocalan] will contribute positively to a solution, then why shouldn’t we go? We view it positively'

- Mazloum Abdi, SDF commander

Abdi added that Turkey’s peace process with the PKK has had a direct impact on northeastern Syria, where Kurdish authorities have held sway over the past decade.

Turkey has seen the SDF presence in northern Syria as a threat and repeatedly clashed with Kurdish fighters there since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war.

“If we are talking about relations with Turkey today, it is thanks to this process,” he said.

“There is currently a ceasefire with the Turkish army here. This came about thanks to the process. If the process reaches a conclusion, the ceasefire on our side will also become permanent.”

Abdi said that he received a message from Ocalan via a letter last year but noted that some issues between Turkey and the SDF could only be resolved through Ocalan’s personal involvement, such as the presence of PKK fighters within the SDF.

“The resolution of this matter is linked to a call from Imrali,” he said, referring to the island where Ocalan has been imprisoned for decades.

SDF talks with Damascus

Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad last year, Abdi and the new Syrian government have held several meetings to discuss the incorporation of the SDF and the Kurdish civilian administration in northeastern Syria into the central Damascus authorities, but little tangible progress has been made since they announced an agreement in March.

Turkey and Damascus have accused Abdi of slowing down the process and putting forward new conditions, such as federalism.

Abdi said he reached a tentative deal on military issues during his meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and US Envoy Thomas Barrack in Damascus in October.

'Until the rights of the Kurds and other groups are clearly defined in the constitution, a full general agreement cannot be achieved'

- Mazloum Abdi, SDF commander

“An agreement was reached on military matters, particularly regarding participation,” he said. “Although there is still a possibility of certain issues arising, there is a general consensus.”

Abdi added that he expects to meet Sharaa again soon, either in Damascus or elsewhere.

However, he said that the main unresolved issues - how the new constitution will guarantee Kurdish rights and whether Syria will adopt a centralised or decentralised system of governance - remain.

“Until the rights of the Kurds and other groups are clearly defined in the constitution, a full general agreement cannot be achieved,” he said.

Abdi reiterated that his forces favour a federal system in Syria but that his leadership is currently focusing on what is realistically achievable and acceptable to both Damascus and the international community.

“The people must be able to elect their own representatives - military, administrative and security officials - and have them represent themselves,” he said.

“They should elect their own authorities and, on this basis, participate in the Syrian state. That is what we mean by ‘decentralised’.”