US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Commander-in-Chief of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazloum Abdi at the Munich Security Conference, the State Department announced on Saturday.
Rubio “emphasized the importance of implementing the permanent ceasefire and integration agreement in northeast Syria, and ensuring full respect and safety for the rights of all Syrians,” the State Department said in a statement.
He also “welcomed the Syrian government’s commitment to fully cooperate with the United States and the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS,” it added.
The appearance of al-Shaibani and Abdi, along with co-chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Autonomous Administration Elham Ahmed at the Munich Conference was seen as a remarkable development in the course of relations and the implementation of the January 30 agreement to gradually integrate the Kurds' military and civilian institutions into the state.
Wael Alwan, Executive Director of the Jusoor Center for Studies, who is close to the Syrian government, told Asharq Al-Awsat that Abdi and Elham Ahmed were invited to the Conference following coordination between the US Special Envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, and al-Shaibani, to hold meetings and discussing several issues, including assigning Abdi a position in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, most likely as Assistant Minister.
Alwan also noted that the issue of integration remains “complex” and faces many obstacles.
Coordinator of the Independent Kurdistan Movement in Syria, Zaid Safouk also spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat, saying “what appears in the media is one thing, and reality is another.”
“The Foreign Minister attended the Munich Conference alone as a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while both Abdi and Elham Ahmed attended separately... each representing his or her institution,” he said.
He pointed out that the United States, “by bringing them together at the same table, tried to present the three as a single delegation and to show that it alone controls the situation.”
“But the reality is different,” Safouk added.
Meeting with Members of Congress
According to SANA, al-Shaibani held talks on Saturday with a number of US Congressmen, headed by Senator Jeanne Shaheen. Abdi and Elham Ahmed took part in the meeting.
The discussions focused on the latest developments in Syria and the region, with both sides “stressing the importance of preserving Syria’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, in addition to supporting the political process in a way that achieves security and stability,” SANA said.
The SDF stated that the meeting focused on discussing the integration agreement, ways to ensure a ceasefire, and enhancing stability.
