ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) chief Mazloum Abdi on Saturday stated that they have reached an understanding with Damascus regarding the integration and decentralization process, ruling out the chances of withdrawing from Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa and expressing willingness for dialogue with Ankara.

High-level delegations from the Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria (Rojava), led by Abdi, and the Syrian government, headed by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, met on Tuesday to discuss the framework of the March 10 agreement.

On March 10, Sharaa and Abdi signed an agreement that would see the group and its institutions in northeast Syria integrate with the Syrian state.

In an interview with SDF-affiliated Ronahi TV, Abdi stated that they have agreed on “a general ceasefire in Damascus” during the meeting, as well as on “how the SDF integrates into the Syrian army,” adding that an SDF military committee will visit Damascus in the upcoming days.

The SDF leader noted that the Kurdish-led internal security forces (Asayish) in northeast Syria (Rojava) will become a part of the Syrian Ministry of Interior.

The chief added that there is an understanding regarding the concept of decentralization. However, “disagreements remain in interpretation,” the outlet quoted him as saying.

He also revealed that meetings will be held to “amend the [Syrian] constitution,” and that the SDF “wanted Kurdish rights to be included in the constitution.”

The Rojava administration has continuously advocated for a decentralized government system that represents different ethnic, religious, and gender components in Syria, a demand firmly rejected by Damascus.

“Let the people of Afrin prepare themselves for an organized return,” Abdi instructed, noting that the Rojava administration’s authorities are also working on returning displaced individuals from the Kurdish towns of Ras al-Ain (Serekaniye) and Tell Abyad (Gire Spi).

Afrin, a Kurdish-majority city in northern Syria, was taken over in 2018 by Turkey and Turkish-affiliated forces, which led to the displacement of more than 137,000 native residents. On the other hand, a large number of mainly displaced Arabs from other parts of Syria were settled in the city.

Abdi asserted that Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and Hasaka are tied to the way they are governed, and that the SDF has “not discussed” withdrawing from Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor and “will not discuss it.”

Meanwhile, Syrian state TV, citing an informed source, reported Saturday that the SDF has expressed willingness to hand over oil produced in the Deir ez-Zor oilfields to Damascus, saying that the Kurdish-led force would retain an undetermined percentage for local consumption.

The source claimed that a verbal agreement was reached on the matter during the Tuesday meeting between the SDF and Damascus delegations.

The SDF chief did not rule out the potential of holding talks with the Turkish state.

“Communication channels between us and Turkey remain open,” he said. “If Turkey wants our coordination with Damascus, it can provide support.”

Hakan Fidan, Turkey’s foreign minister, met with his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani on Wednesday, following deadly clashes between Syrian government-affiliated groups and Kurdish-led forces in Aleppo, calling for the “urgent” integration of the SDF into the Syrian military, accusing the former of harboring “a separatist agenda.”

The Damascus meeting came following heavy clashes between Asayish and Damascus forces in the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh, following a crackdown on demonstrators protesting the government’s unexplained closure of all roads leading to the area, leading to dozens of casualties.

The Turkish foreign ministry on Saturday announced that another meeting between Damascus and Ankara will be held tomorrow to discuss “security cooperation.”

The US-backed SDF functions as the de facto army of northeast Syria and played a key role in the territorial defeat of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria in 2019.