Syria
Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot in a meeting with the chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, in Erbil on April 24, 2025. Photo: Jean-Noël Barrot/X
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot met with the chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi, late Wednesday in Erbil, where they discussed political stability and the future of Syria's Kurds.
“The rights and interests of the Kurds must be fully taken into account in the Syrian transition,” Barrot said in a post on X on Thursday.
According to a statement from the SDF, Barrot emphasized “the importance of providing all forms of support to it, for the importance of its continuation in fighting the ‘Daesh’ terrorist organisation, and also to support stability and security in Syria in general.”
Daesh is the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State (ISIS).
France has been an active member of the US-led coalition against ISIS and has recently joined American efforts to facilitate intra-Kurdish talks in northeast Syria (Rojava), aiming to end a years-long political rift among Kurdish parties. The SDF remains the US-led coalition’s main partner on the ground.
Abdi also met with President Barzani the same day. Barzani has previously urged Damascus to safeguard all components of Syria and praised the Kurds' efforts, saying they “have made significant strides toward consolidating their demands.”
During a press conference with President Barzani, Barrot reiterated France’s commitment to Kurdish unity, saying he has “close coordination” with the president “to support the efforts of General Mazloum and all Syrian Kurdish political forces to unite and positively influence the ongoing transition in Syria to ensure that pluralism, rights, and interests of Kurds and all Syrian communities are guaranteed.”
He also praised the SDF for its ongoing fight against ISIS.
The French minister’s visit comes just days ahead of a highly-anticipated intra-Kurdish conference in Rojava, where representatives from the ruling Democratic Union Party (PYD), the opposition Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC), and other Kurdish groups are expected to discuss unity and their role in Syria’s future.
The PYD has engaged in negotiations with the ENKS, with talks facilitated by members of the US-led global coalition against ISIS, particularly the United States and France.
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