📰 Damascus–AANES talks stuck in paralysis one year after Assad’s fall

HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – One year after the fall of the al-Assad regime, the relationship between the Syrian transitional administration in Damascus and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) in the country’s northeast appears stagnant, marked by sharp political differences between the two sides. numerous Syrians hope that the March 10 agreement will pave the way for a emerging phase built on understandings that meet the aspirations of both parties. Despite multiple rounds of negotiations, relations between the two sides have gone through fluctuating stages. Furthermore, observers note that regional entanglements have made the circumstances even more complicated, and optimism about implementing the agreement before the end of the year remains limited.

How does Damascus view northeast Syria? Both sides exchange accusations of obstructing the agreement, and rhetoric has intensified amid occasional field skirmishes. Abdelwahab Khalil, a member of the Relations Committee of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) in Damascus, says relations between Damascus and the AANES remain governed by “caution and distrust,” due to a mix of internal and external factors.

Chief among them, he says, is “the rise of hate speech from some representatives of the transitional administration, which has rose tensions and deepened divisions instead of opening channels for dialogue. ” Khalil explained to North Press that the March agreement faces significant challenges, including regional interference, internal developments, and a deep lack of trust between the two parties, all of which have directly impacted the agreement’s trajectory. He stressed that confidence-building requires practical steps, starting with halting media and political escalation, abandoning accusatory rhetoric, and focusing on shared priorities such as combating terrorism and preserving national unity. Khalil emphasized the need for direct dialogue between political and administrative leaderships in Damascus and Qamishli to reach clear understandings on key issues such as decentralization, cultural rights, and security arrangements.

He added that mutual guarantees are essential for the agreement’s success, including provisions on joint administration, local elections, and the economic rights of AANES–held areas. as per Khalil, political circles in Damascus remain “unoptimistic” due to regional entanglements and Turkish pressure, furthermore to the tug-of-war among regional actors such as Iran and Russia, and U. S. influence. This makes any progress “fraught with significant challenges. ” Ilham Ahmad, Co-Chair of AANES’ Foreign Relations Department, previously stated that “Turkish interference represents one of the main obstacles to our dialogue with the Damascus government. ” Regarding the March 10 agreement, Khalil…