DAMASCUS, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), said Thursday that the group's military, security and administrative bodies had been integrated into Syria's state institutions, marking a new phase in relations between the Kurdish-led administration and Damascus.
"The phase of integrating our military, security and administrative institutions into the national state institutions has been completed," said Abdi during celebrations marking the centenary of the northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli.
He said the process was carried out under an agreement reached with Damascus earlier this year, which paved the way for the integration of SDF structures under state authority.
Despite the institutional integration, Abdi indicated that efforts to secure Kurdish political and constitutional rights would continue.
"From now on, we begin a new phase, and our struggle will continue to establish the legitimate rights of our people in the constitution," he added.
For years during Syria's conflict, the Kurdish-led administration controlled large parts of the country's north and northeast, establishing its own military, security and civilian institutions.
Abdi's announcement follows months of negotiations and implementation efforts between Damascus and the SDF over the future of northeastern Syria.
The two sides reached the agreement in January on the integration. In line with the deal, Syrian security forces have since deployed in Hasakah, Qamishli, and around the northern city of Ain al-Arab, also known as Kobani. ■
