Syria is open to Kurdish autonomy negotiations after ISIS defeat

Damascus has softened its stance on the Kurdish demand for autonomy, as partial results from the referendum held in Iraqi Kurdistan Monday show 93 percent support for independence. Final results are promised Thursday. In Damascus, Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said Tuesday that the Syrian government was ready to discuss reaching an understanding with the Kurdish minority “on a formula for the future” – after ISIS is eliminated.

This statement follows several months of secret talks conducted between Syrian Kurdish leaders and the Assad regime.