Ilham Ahmad: Damascus Talks Focused on Accelerating “Integration,” With Education Among Key Outstanding Issues

Ilham Ahmed, head of the Foreign Relations Department in the Autonomous Administration, said a meeting held in Damascus on April 15 with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, attended by her and Syrian Democratic Forces commander Mazloum Abdi, discussed progress in integrating Autonomous Administration institutions into the Syrian government’s ministerial structures, as well as the obstacles hindering that process.

Ahmed told Hawar news agency, which is close to the SDF, that the meeting focused mainly on the challenges facing the implementation of previous understandings. She said both sides are working to address them, but the process is still moving slowly.

Education File Still Unresolved

One of the main issues raised during the meeting was the education sector, as recognition of certificates issued by the Autonomous Administration remains unresolved, despite nearly three months having passed since the previous understandings.

Ahmed said the two sides agreed to organize a visit soon by the ministers of education and higher education to al-Hasakah province, northeastern Syria, to establish a joint mechanism to address the issue. She added that later meetings will be held to discuss the education system and its language, ahead of final decisions.

According to Ahmed, the administrative steps completed so far are limited to appointing directors for the health and education directorates, with expectations that the rest of the appointments will be completed in the coming period, alongside a new mechanism to organize the work of institutions.

Limited Progress in the “Integration” Track

Despite references to some steps being taken in the integration track, Ahmed said progress remains limited, especially in appointments at the ministry and directorate levels.

She said there has been partial progress in appointing representatives of different areas, but many administrative posts still require new understandings amid differing views between the two sides.

Border Crossings and Management Mechanism

On the issue of border crossings, one of the central files, Ahmed said the two sides had agreed on a mechanism to manage the crossings, including the Semalka crossing, adding that employees in Autonomous Administration institutions continue to perform their duties within the new arrangements.

At the same time, she said problems have emerged during the implementation of that mechanism, related to overlapping powers and earlier appointments.

Disputes Over Appointments

Among the main obstacles that have emerged, according to Ahmed, is the issue of administrative appointments. Several directorate heads were appointed by the Syrian government after the fall of the previous regime, creating overlap with Autonomous Administration cadres.

She said this situation requires clear understandings that ensure existing cadres are not sidelined, stressing the need to adopt standards of competence and experience in selecting officials, rather than political considerations.

She added that northeastern Syria is marked by social diversity, which means appointments should reflect that diversity and ensure representation for different communities, including Arabs, Kurds, and Syriacs, within administrative institutions.

Women’s Representation Remains a “Standing Obstacle”

Ahmed also addressed women’s representation, saying it remains one of the main challenges in the integration process despite the broad presence of women within Autonomous Administration structures.

She said the names proposed for administrative posts include both women and men, but the appointments approved so far have been limited to men, especially in the health and education directorates.

She stressed the need to give women a greater role in the next phase, saying women’s participation should be a priority, not a secondary option.

The Women’s Protection Units File

Another file that remains unresolved, according to Ahmed, is that of the Women’s Protection Units, as no final formula has yet been reached for their status within the new arrangements.

She said discussions are continuing on that issue, including the possibility of integrating those units into the official structure, adding that the matter remains on the government’s agenda.

Political Representation and Municipal Reorganization

At the political level, Ahmed said work is underway to choose representatives for al-Hasakah and Ayn al-Arab(Kobani) in parliament, through a central committee and a preparatory committee in al-Hasakah.

She added that the preparatory committee has broad powers in this regard, allowing it to play a central role in determining the mechanism of representation.

In the same context, she said the municipal system will be reorganized in the new phase, adding that the change comes within a broader effort to develop local administration and strengthen representation.

A New Constitution and the Kurdish Role

Regarding the constitutional track, Ahmed said raising the issue of drafting a new constitution for Syria will become more serious after representation for northeastern Syria is completed in parliament.

She said Kurds will have a role in the constitutional drafting committee, stressing the importance of including all Syrian components in that process as a basic step toward building a new political system.

Detainees File

Ahmed also addressed the detainees’ file, saying it has not yet been resolved and that the meeting stressed the need to work toward the release of all detainees as soon as possible.

The remarks come as several steps in the integration track continue, amid political and administrative complications that are slowing efforts to reach final solutions on several files.

A Complex Track

Ahmed’s remarks reflect the scale of the challenges facing the integration process, amid overlapping powers and differing visions on several key files. Despite preliminary understandings, implementation remains slow, and disputes continue, especially on education, appointments, and women’s representation.

The integration of Autonomous Administration institutions into government structures is based on understandings between the two sides that led to the announcement of an agreement in January.

That track came after the Syrian army advanced into areas of northeastern Syria that had been administered by the SDF, before the group withdrew to cities in al-Hasakah province and the town of Ayn al-Arab(Kobani)

Since then, and following the January agreement, steps have begun to integrate institutions into Syrian government structures, starting with Qamishli airport, border crossings, and oil fields. Several committees have also been formed to integrate military, security, and service institutions.

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