By Mohamed Misto

DAMASCUS

The PYD, the Syrian affiliate of the PKK organization, on Thursday declared a federal system in PYD-controlled areas in northern Syria.

Following a two-day conference of Kurdish leaders in the northern town of Rmeilan, the PYD said a federal system would be established in three areas in northern Syria.

Around 150 Kurdish figures attended the conference. According to an unnamed source, the meeting was snubbed by the Kurdish National Council, which does not recognize plans for self-autonomy in Syria.

The source said a 9-member panel will set out details of the federalism document and will put it for vote.

Meanwhile, the Syrian regime has rejected any plans for declaring federalism in Syria.

The official SANA news agency quoted a foreign ministry source as saying that raising the issue of federalism "poses a threat to Syria's territorial integrity."

The Union of Arab and Turkmen Tribes, which represents a large majority of northern Syria’s population, also rejected PYD's plans to declare federalism in northern Syria.

In a statement, the tribes said PYD was planning to execute its separatist project with the support of countries that call themselves friends of Syria.

Turkey has repeatedly voiced its concern over the PYD's affiliation with the PKK and the sharing of logistical information and weaponry between them.

At Turkey's request, PYD was not invited to the UN-sponsored talks in Geneva aimed at resolving the six-year conflict in Syria.