{"id":1740,"date":"2025-04-10T08:01:13","date_gmt":"2025-04-10T08:01:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/defacto-sy.com\/?p=1740"},"modified":"2025-04-13T10:37:55","modified_gmt":"2025-04-13T10:37:55","slug":"dialogue-on-al-sharaa-abdi-agreement-and-the-future-of-the-aanes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/defacto-sy.com\/?p=1740","title":{"rendered":"Dialogue on al-Sharaa-Abdi Agreement and the Future of the AANES"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">On April 8, the DeFacto Platform for Dialogue convened a session to discuss the ongoing negotiations between the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) and the Syrian government. The session was anchored in the context of the March 10 agreement between Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mazloum Abdi.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">In the first part, journalist Shirin Ibrahim conducted a comprehensive conversation with Ilham Ahmad, co-chair of the AANES Foreign Relations Department, addressing the key issues at stake in Syria\u2019s current transitional phase, the recently announced understandings with the central government, and the concerns of displaced communities and local populations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">The second part of the session opened the floor to civil society activists, media professionals, and political figures who raised critical questions and voiced concerns regarding the guarantees for a political process aimed at achieving peace, justice, and fundamental freedoms in Syria.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">The DeFacto&#8217;s initiative is part of a broader effort to foster open debate and bring together divergent Syrian perspectives around shared national interests.<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 1920px;\" class=\"wp-video\"><video class=\"wp-video-shortcode\" id=\"video-1740-1\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" preload=\"metadata\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"https:\/\/defacto-sy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/10.mp4?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/defacto-sy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/10.mp4\">https:\/\/defacto-sy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/10.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #800000; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong><\/p>\n<p>Key takeaways from Ilham Ahmad\u2019s remarks \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ol style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #003366; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Framework for a new political process:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Ilham Ahmad described the March agreement as a foundational document outlining broad principles that can guide both current and future cooperation. Civil and political actors will participate in the committees formed under this agreement, which touches on multiple aspects of life in Syria, particularly in the north and east.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol style=\"text-align: justify;\" start=\"2\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #003366; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Reservations on the constitutional declaration:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Ahmad criticized the hasty announcement of the constitutional declaration following the agreement. She emphasized that it lacked inclusivity and did not reflect the aspirations of the broader Syrian population. Despite these reservations, the AANES continues to engage in dialogue to resolve contentious points.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol style=\"text-align: justify;\" start=\"3\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #003366; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Legacy of diversity and governance:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Ahmad highlighted the AANES\u2019s and the SDF\u2019s accumulated experience in inclusive governance, emphasizing their commitment to human rights and diversity. She asserted their role as guarantors of a just and democratic transition for Syria.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol style=\"text-align: justify;\" start=\"4\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #003366; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Fundamental rights are non-negotiable:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">The AANES official firmly stated that cultural and national rights, religious freedoms, mother tongue education, decentralized administration, and internal security must be safeguarded. These are red lines for any negotiations.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol style=\"text-align: justify;\" start=\"5\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #003366; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Concerns over exclusion and representation:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">The initial steps taken by the new government in Damascus were deemed exclusionary, particularly towards women and certain communities. Ahmad stressed that the AANES holds no responsibility for past governmental failures and emphasized the importance of implementing the agreement transparently.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol style=\"text-align: justify;\" start=\"6\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #003366; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Local governance and services:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Addressing stalled services such as civil registry offices and Qamishli airport, Ilham Ahmad noted these institutions had been abandoned after the fall of the previous regime, and the new government has shown little initiative in reactivating them. These issues are now part of the negotiation track.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol style=\"text-align: justify;\" start=\"7\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #003366; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Right of return for the displaced:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Ahmad stressed the importance of a safe and voluntary return of the displaced from Afrin, Serekaniye (Ras al-Ain), and Tel Abyad. Collective returns are prioritized, alongside guarantees against violations and arrest. The AANES is in contact with international organizations and insists on returning confiscated properties to rightful owners.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol style=\"text-align: justify;\" start=\"8\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #003366; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">External influences and de-escalation:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">U.S. mediation efforts have led to a notable reduction in hostilities between the SDF and Turkey. Ahmad underlined the AANES\u2019s aim to maintain peaceful relations with neighboring countries while resisting international deals that come at the expense of the Syrian people.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol style=\"text-align: justify;\" start=\"9\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #003366; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Demands for security reform:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #000000; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Ilham Ahmad called for the replacement of armed factions with local police at security checkpoints, holding the Damascus government accountable for violations in areas under its control, and placing responsibility on Turkey for abuses committed by affiliated groups in occupied zones.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On April 8, the DeFacto Platform for Dialogue convened a session to discuss the ongoing negotiations between the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) and the Syrian government. The session was anchored in the context of the March 10 agreement between Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1741,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"jnews_post_split":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[100],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[84],"class_list":["post-1740","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-our-activities"],"authors":[{"term_id":84,"user_id":5,"is_guest":0,"slug":"admin9090","display_name":"admin9090","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0115cd93beece6d5f95fbe9b2d0973c523785793e08ffb9254f68083c0722130?s=96&d=mm&r=g","author_category":"","first_name":"","last_name":"","user_url":"","job_title":"","description":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/defacto-sy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1740","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/defacto-sy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/defacto-sy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/defacto-sy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/defacto-sy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1740"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/defacto-sy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1740\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1755,"href":"https:\/\/defacto-sy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1740\/revisions\/1755"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/defacto-sy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1741"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/defacto-sy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1740"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/defacto-sy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1740"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/defacto-sy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1740"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/defacto-sy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fppma_author&post=1740"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}