With the agreement reached on January 29 between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian Transitional Government, the integration process in North and East Syria officially began. However, despite 35 days having passed, the steps taken on the ground have remained limited, while the non-implementation of some important articles has drawn attention.

 

Journalist Doğan Cihan answered the questions of Mezopotamya Agency (MA) regarding the steps taken and not taken in the ongoing integration process between the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and the Syrian Transitional Government.

 

CURRENT STAGE OF THE AGREEMENT

 

Cihan said that despite the Transitional Government’s slow and negative approach, the agreement has been partially implemented through certain concrete steps on the ground. He stated that negotiations were held regarding appointments in various regions and that certain security points were established with the participation of both sides.

 

Cihan noted that, as part of the administrative integration process, Nûredîn Îsa Ehmed was appointed governor of Hesekê (Hasakah) upon the proposal of the SDF, adding that this step marked the beginning of the integration process in the Cizîrê (Jazira) Region.

 

He also stated that an integration process began in the health sector at the first stage: “A three-member committee was established for the integration of institutions and personnel affiliated with the Autonomous Administration’s Health Department into the Syrian Ministry of Health. An official from the Syrian Health Ministry, Dr. Xalid El Xalid, was appointed as the head of the committee, while co-chairs of the Autonomous Administration Health Department, Dr. Memo Xelîl Mihemed and Dr. Meryem Ebdurehîm Ehmed, were assigned as members.”

 

Speaking about steps taken in infrastructure and the economy, Cihan said that after technical inspections at Qamişlo (Qamishlo) Airport, flights are planned to resume. He also noted that a meeting was held with the participation of Damascus government and Autonomous Administration officials regarding the Rimelan Oil Fields, which are under SDF control. According to Cihan, an agreement was reached to continue work on operating the oil fields and making technical improvements.

 

Cihan said an important meeting regarding military integration took place in Hesekê on February 6. Within the framework of the agreement, the SDF withdrew its forces from the area between Hesekê and Derîk (Derik) as of February 11 and transferred the area to Asayiş (Asayish, local forces).

 

He added: “Some forces affiliated with the Damascus government also withdrew beyond the borders of Hesekê province in certain areas or handed over their positions to the General Security Forces. However, the withdrawal has not yet been completed at some points. During this process the Hesekê–Raqqa, Hesekê–Shaddadi and Hesekê–Til Barak roads were reopened to traffic. The Rojava Internal Security Forces and the General Security Forces affiliated with the Syrian Ministry of Interior began establishing joint checkpoints on these routes. The aim is both to facilitate civilian mobility and to ensure the safe resumption of trade and transportation.”

 

Speaking about the siege that has continued for one and a half months in Kobanê, Cihan said the city has been treated separately from other regions and that some limited steps have been taken against the siege. In addition to the establishment of some checkpoints, he stated that one of the most concrete steps was the withdrawal of forces affiliated with the Transitional Government’s Ministry of Defense from 74 villages.

 

Cihan said the slow progress of the agreement is due to the stance of the Transitional Government: “While there are assessments that the Transitional Government is using Kobanê as a pressure tool, the SDF and representatives of the Autonomous Administration have repeatedly stated that they will remain committed to the agreement and have taken steps on the ground accordingly.”

 

He added that Turkey’s reservations regarding the agreement and the occasional emergence of demands outside the agreement are also among the factors causing the process to stall or proceed slowly.

 

STEPS NOT YET TAKEN UNDER THE AGREEMENT

 

Cihan said some of the expected appointments under the agreement may not have taken place due to Turkey’s interventions. He added that one of the most controversial issues in the agreement concerns the status of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ).

 

“In the initial talks, it was in principle approved that YPJ forces would take part in the newly established military structure at battalion level. Later this approach changed. Therefore, the status of the YPJ still remains one of the main issues awaiting resolution,” he said. 

 

Cihan also said that while the SDF complied with the agreement regarding prisoner exchanges, the Transitional Government has been slow in handing over prisoners. He added that not all steps regarding the withdrawal of forces have yet been taken. “The implementation process of the agreement continues on the ground, but due to disagreements on political and military issues many articles have not yet been completed and negotiations are continuing,” he said.

 

IMPACT OF THE AGREEMENT ON DAILY LIFE AND RETURNS

 

Cihan said that although a month has passed since the agreement, its effects have not yet been felt due to the Transitional Government’s slow approach.

 

“Because the expected openings in areas directly affecting civilians—such as border crossings, main roads, the airport and administrative institutions—have not taken place, there has been no significant change in daily life.”

 

He added that no concrete steps have yet been taken to ensure the return of displaced people, noting that civilians continue to live in difficult conditions in camps, schools and mosques.

 

Cihan added: “A joint coordination meeting was held in Afrin between the Rojava Internal Security Forces and the General Security Forces affiliated with the Syrian Ministry of Interior. However, it is stated that the necessary conditions for safe return have not yet been created. There are still many problems that need to be resolved regarding the return of displaced people.”

 

He also noted that under the agreement security in cities where returns would take place was supposed to be provided by local security forces formed from the local population, but no concrete step has yet been taken in this regard.

 

“Girê Spî and Serêkaniyê are still under the presence of Turkey and armed groups affiliated with it. The Syrian Transitional Government states that it does not have direct control over these two cities and therefore the progress of the process is on hold,” he said. 

 

DIPLOMATIC CONTACTS 

 

Cihan said that the diplomatic contacts carried out by representatives of the Autonomous Administration in Europe were noteworthy, particularly because the United Nations engaged with an actor other than the Syrian Transitional Government in Damascus.

 

Cihan concluded: “As a result, although limited, some aid convoys were able to reach the region. Despite the Transitional Government’s tendency to slow down or weaken the agreement, it is possible to say that international diplomatic contacts have created a certain degree of pressure and prevented the agreement from completely collapsing.”

 

MA / Melik Varol