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An Analysis of the March 10 Agreement

Arabic and Kurdish media outlets have circulated this news through video reports, highlighting a preliminary agreement reached between the transitional Syrian government’s Prime Minister Ahmad al-Shar' and the general commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi. In my perspective, I will analyze the points mentioned in the agreement regarding the political process, which claims to exclude no one with competencies among Syrians.
Let’s consider the first point:
"- Guaranteeing the rights of all Syrians in representation and participation in the political process and all state institutions based on competence, regardless of their religious or ethnic backgrounds."
This means that the first point seeks to inform us of the state's rejection of the principle of power-sharing based on ethnicity or sect, which would support the principle of citizenship.
The political environment in Syria is complicated, with interwoven contradictions that seem nearly impossible to resolve in a short period. Recently, massacres were committed against the Alawite community by factions of the National Army loyal to the Ankara government, brought in by public security to support them in confronting what are called remnants of the Syrian regime on the coast. This has led to the death of hundreds of public security personnel aligned with Ahmad al-Shar's government. The latter's response took a militia-like approach, resulting in the extermination of nearly 3,000 Alawite civilians, many of whom were mutilated before being killed and some thrown into the sea, according to local and international reports from institutions like the Washington Institute and European sources. In light of this, al-Shar found no option but to hasten discussions with Mazloum Abdi, agreeing to the pact to maintain his legitimacy in Damascus. Undoubtedly, we view this agreement as connected to a context of events that al-Shar’s government could not manage, nor could it control the militias that committed numerous massacres and violations against civilians. Many horrifying scenes of slaughter sparked shock and astonishment among people and the global public opinion. The news of this agreement seems to attempt to cover or distract from the predicament facing al-Shar and his government, and these massacres reinforced the opinion that there is significant sectarian and ethnic strife among Syrians, resulting from decades of sectarian and ethnic feeding that has led to a divisive reality among those communities. If Syria can be successfully imposed as a geographical and political unit, this does not imply that such unity exists as a psychological concept among the communities and peoples of Syria at all. Ignoring this truth represents a breakdown of any social contract imposed by force or by regional powers under the pretext of protecting their countries from division. The reality of these regimes and their societies remains one of division, suffering from congestion, tension, chaos, and awaiting some kind of external intervention that reveals its true state. The massacres against Alawites, and prior ones committed by Iranian sectarian militias and the Syrian regime against the Sunni community, represent a division that cannot be shaped into a social contract through a political law or a new system, leading to coexistence among these components that can now only kill one another. This indicates that the implementation of centralized governance in Syria is impossible due to the lack of trust between all Syrian components, which have become apprehensive of handing over their weapons to the state, fearing they will meet the same fate as the Alawite community, which was led to slaughter and destruction.
Thus, the timing of the agreement carries significant implications, including al-Shar's attempt to protect himself by seeking help from Mazloum Abdi, with the agreement leading to reduced international pressure on him. This means he could quickly renege on the agreement if those pressures lifted and Turkey extended a hand to him, relieving him of any commitment that might lead to Kurdish demands for a federal system akin to that in South Kurdistan.
Consequently, it appears that this agreement, in its entirety, serves as a means to escape a circumstantial predicament rather than a genuine intention for a solution, stability, and sustainable appeasement.
The Second Point:
"The Kurdish community is an integral part of the Syrian state, and the Syrian state guarantees its rights in citizenship and all its constitutional rights."
Legally, this point and according to the constitution and political customs carry multiple dimensions and contexts, and therefore the definition of national identity within the Syrian state must be clarified. Here, "community" refers to a human group residing within a political entity, which does not grant it any legal status like the right to self-determination. Instead, the Kurds are viewed similarly to a religious sect or minority comprising a few hundred people, while their actual number exceeds 3 million, not counting those living in various Syrian cities like Aleppo, Damascus, Latakia, Idlib, Hama, and others.
The term "Kurdish people" has been replaced with "Kurdish community" in an effort to negate their national character, keeping them within the Syrian state as an indivisible unit. This suggests that the Syrian constitution will not recognize Kurds .
Reber Habun
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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
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