DAMASCUS, — Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, facing protests against his rule, has invited representatives from Kurdish parties for talks.
Assad invited representatives from 12 Kurdish parties, including the Democratic Unity Party (PYD. Local sources say that the parties accepted Assad’s invitation.
The Kurdish representatives are expected to propose the establishment of a Kurdish autonomous region near the border with Turkey during the meeting. It was not clear when the talks would take place.
In an effort to respond to the Kurdish demands, Assad has promised reforms and announced an amnesty for political prisoners, including Kurdish activists held in the country’s prisons.
Assad has also promised Syrian citizenship for more than 500,000 stateless Kurds who were striped of Syrian citizenship and were regarded as refugee in the home land.