At a Glance

• PUK President Talabani met General Mazloum Abdi in Erbil.
• Talabani reiterated the PUK's unwavering support for Kurdish national and constitutional rights in Syria.
• Abdi highly valued the PUK's role in advancing Syrian dialogues and protecting Kurdish rights.

Bafel Jalal Talabani met with Syrian Presidential Advisor General Mazloum Abdi in Erbil, where the PUK President reiterated his support for Kurdish constitutional rights in Syria, while Abdi appreciated Talabani's role in protecting Kurdish rights.

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Key Statements and Focus Areas

• According to the PUK President’s Press Office, Talabani told Abdi, “We support the consolidation of the national and constitutional rights of the Kurdish people in Syria.”
• Both sides addressed the latest political and security developments in the region. 

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During Tuesday's meeting in the capital, Qubad Talabani, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, and Shalaw Kosrat Rasul, member of the PUK Political Bureau, also attended.

On the general situation in Syria and the Kurdish issue in Rojava (Western Kurdistan), Talabani reaffirmed the PUK's unwavering support for the rights of the Kurdish people and all components.

“We will assist any step that guarantees peaceful coexistence and achieves stability to overcome challenges in the new Syria,” he added. 

For his part, Abdi highly appreciated President Bafel and the PUK's role in advancing Syrian dialogues and protecting Kurdish rights within the framework of agreements.

FYI

The bilateral meeting in Erbil between PUK President Bafel Jalal Talabani and Syrian Presidential Advisor General Mazloum Abdi occurred on the sidelines of the MERI Forum 2026. This prominent regional conference brought together major Iraqi, Kurdish, and international leaders to address shifting governance and security dynamics across the Middle East.

At the MERI Forum, the PUK President called for a broader Kurdish struggle, saying that it must not be confined within Iraq: "We must never forget our brothers and sisters in Syria, Turkey, and Iran."

For his part, Syrian Presidential Advisor General Mazloum Abdi emphasized that securing Kurdish constitutional rights and language recognition is vital to correcting the historical marginalization of Kurds in Syria. 

He confirmed that his agreement with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa aims to fully unify military and administrative institutions across the country, noting that the reintegration process has already made significant progress.

He stressed that internal political unity in Rojava must be built on protecting these achievements while acknowledging that new steps are being taken toward broader Kurdish alignment.

Furthermore, he noted that while advancements have been made regarding the Kurdish language, securing its formal constitutional recognition remains a key obstacle. 

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the gathering, Abdi also stated that the future of the Kurds and the recent situation of Hasakah are moving toward improvement.

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