Latest news with #AANES
Shafaq News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
AANES: Syria dialogue marks new era for solution
Shafaq News – Qamishli On Sunday, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) declared that its latest talks with the Syrian government represent a turning point toward a Syrian political settlement. In an official statement, AANES thanked the United States and France for their 'support for peace, stability, and democracy in Syria,' emphasizing that sustainable solutions can only be reached through responsible, inclusive dialogue. AANES reaffirmed its commitment to Syria's territorial unity as a 'non-negotiable principle' and rejected accusations of separatism, asserting that its calls for decentralization, social justice, gender equality, and inclusive constitutional guarantees align with the original goals of the 2011 uprising. Blaming decades of centralized rule for the country's repeated crises, the administration expressed readiness to integrate into national institutions on a democratic basis, contribute to drafting a new constitution, and called on all political forces to reject incitement and safeguard the dialogue process. Tensions persist between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian army units, despite a March agreement aimed at integrating the SDF into a restructured Syrian state. A core dispute remains over the SDF's demand to retain its autonomous command and territorial control in the northeast, while Damascus insists on full integration under a centralized military structure.
Shafaq News
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Syrian aviation authority blocks AANES move on Qamishli Airport
Shafaq News/ On Saturday evening, the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) issued a statement rejecting the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria's (AANES) recent decision to establish a new authority for managing Qamishli International Airport. The SCAA stressed that the closure is binding on all local and international aviation entities, adding that it is the sole legally authorized body to manage airports and oversee air traffic within Syrian airspace. It further warned that any attempt to operate or utilize the airport without coordination with Damascus constitutes a violation of international aviation regulations. On June 19, the Executive Council of the AANES issued a decree establishing a general administration for Qamishli Airport, claiming authority over its operations. The council declared the move effective immediately and called on relevant parties to adhere to the new structure. Qamishli Airport has remained closed to civilian flights since the fall of the Al-Assad regime late last year. Since then, only Russian military aircraft have used the facility. Government institutions such as civil courts, population registries, and directorates of civil affairs, immigration, and passports also remain inactive in AANES-held areas, raising the risk of further administrative and political escalation.
Shafaq News
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Damascus, Kurdish authorities to resume talks on power-sharing
Shafaq News/ Self-Administration's Dialogue Committee in northeastern Syria (AANES) and the Syrian government are set to launch a new round of negotiations on May 30, a source revealed to Shafaq News on Wednesday. The Self-Administration's dialogue committee includes Kurdish, Arab, Syriac, and Assyrian representatives from Kurdish-majority regions as well as the provinces of Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor. The committee's visit aims to lay the groundwork for advancing the agreement reached between Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi and Syrian transitional President Ahmad Al-Sharaa on March 10. According to the source, the negotiation agenda will cover topics related to the Self-Administration's institutions, including public services, economy, and education in the areas under AANS control. Meanwhile, Kurdish political leaders, including those from the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the Kurdish National Council (ENKS), have endorsed a joint vision for regional federalism, which they plan to present during upcoming talks in Damascus. While Al-Sharaa has rejected proposals for autonomous cantons, Kurdish negotiators insist that decentralization and constitutional guarantees for Kurdish-led security forces are essential to any lasting political settlement. Badran Jia Kurd, an advisor to AANES, told AFP this week that there can be 'no compromise' on the demand for decentralized pluralism in Syria's political system. The dialogue with the interim Syrian government is ongoing, he affirmed, noting that it addresses 'complex files,' and requires 'greater confidence-building between the two sides than ever before.'
Shafaq News
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
First official Damascus visit to al-Hol camp: Repatriation on agenda
Shafaq News/ A senior Syrian government delegation, joined by officials from the US-led Global Coalition, visited al-Hol camp in eastern al-Hasakah province on Saturday to assess conditions and discuss options for the return of displaced Syrians. A camp official told Shafaq News the delegation included senior figures from Syria's Interior and Foreign Ministries, as well as intelligence and counterterrorism units, marking the first formal visit by Damascus officials to a displacement camp under SDF control. The visit, reportedly included a closed-door meeting with representatives from the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) and Coalition envoys, focused on expediting the repatriation process to ease pressure on the camp and gradually reduce its population. Additional talks are expected to address reintegration plans and long-term support for returnees. Al-Hol currently houses more than 35,000 people, including approximately 13,000 Iraqi refugees, 16,000 displaced Syrians, and over 6,000 foreign nationals—mostly women and children connected to ISIS fighters. While AANES launched a voluntary return initiative for Syrian families earlier this year, citing improved security and lower risks of reprisal, it pledged assistance for those choosing to leave. Since 2021, Iraq, backed by international partners, has repatriated thousands of its citizens from the camp. Returnees are processed through the al-Jadaa rehabilitation center near Mosul, though the program still faces public resistance due to trauma linked to ISIS's former rule.
Shafaq News
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Syrian government, Kurdish AANES reopen talks on constitutional revisions
Shafaq News/ The Syrian government and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) have reopened negotiations to revise sections of the country's newly issued constitutional declaration, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Wednesday. According to sources cited by the UK-based monitor, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) objected to the addition of clauses absent from the original March 10 agreement, prompting both sides to return to dialogue. The discussions reportedly aim to develop a mutually acceptable framework that secures political rights and representation for residents of Northeast Syria, advancing efforts to shift from military confrontation to a durable political settlement. Observatory sources also described the renewed engagement as the 'start of a peace-driven political track' focused on Kurdish inclusion and long-term governance reforms. The dialogue unfolds against a backdrop of evolving diplomatic relations between Damascus and key players such as Saudi Arabia and the United States. Both parties have reportedly agreed to form a joint follow-up committee to review and revise the constitutional text, aiming to support de-escalation, promote inclusivity, and foster political stability in the autonomous regions.
