Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his government remained firmly opposed to a federal system in Syria on Wednesday, calling the idea “nothing more than an empty dream.” 

Erdogan was responding to reporters’ questions about the first-ever Kurdish Unity and Solidarity Conference that was held in Qamishli, northeast Syria, on Saturday, under the auspices of the Kurdish-led Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and its armed wing, the Syrian Democratic Forces. The opposition Kurdistan National Council co-hosted the event, where “a common Kurdish vision” for Syria was articulated.

“There is no room for [a federation] in the Syrian reality. We recommend that decisions that contribute to the stability of the region be made rather than those that threaten [it],” Erdogan said. “We will not permit any fait accompli in Syria or any initiatives that threaten or endanger the lasting stability of the region,” he added. The Turkish leader made the remarks during his flight home from Rome, where he met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. 

In their final declaration, conference attendees made no mention of federalism or even autonomy. They called for “a fair solution to the Kurdish question in Syria such as democracy and decentralization,” even though both ruling and opposition Kurdish leaders have openly stated their desire for a federal status. The muted tone reflected concerns about provoking Syria’s interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, who has made clear his wish to preserve a centralized rule with no special status for the country’s minorities.