-
Can Moscow mediate an agreement between Syrian Kurds and Assad’s regime?

Zara Saleh
It seems increasingly clear that, Moscow, as a one of the most powerful player in Syria, can play mediation role between the Kurds and Damascus. However, with the Russia's obvious support for the Assad’s regime, would it be able to act as a neutral mediator between the two parties?
Recently, as many times before, as Syrian Kurds controls the north-eastern part of Syria, urge Moscow to mediate talks with Bashar Al- Assad. The Kurdish official Ilham Ahmad, which is the co- chairman of the SDF< Syrian Democratic Forces>, who held negotiations with the Syrian government, had last week visited Russian military air base in Syria < Hmeimim- Tartous>, simultaneously with the Turkish threat to invade the Eastern Euphrates and creating a safe zone.
Moscow is always addressing in general its will of ‘the guarantee of the Kurdish rights in Syria’ as a kind of media propaganda , in exchange for the American military departure and in favour of Assad reclaiming full control of Syria. Furthermore, Russia always insists the Syrian Kurds to return to the lap of the Syrian regime without any guarantee of their constitutional rights such as autonomy or self- administration.
Simultaneously, Russia has always been using the ‘Kurdish card’ in favour of its interests. They want to take control over most of the Syrian territories, even the Northeast which is led by the US and its allies, the Kurds. Russia's secret goal is to put its hands on the sources of the economy in the Eastern Euphrates such as oil, gas, water resources and agriculture as it had previously been done in areas under Assad's regime. Russia has reached long-term trade agreement with the Syrian government, like the purchase of the port of Tartous and Latakia beside the full domination of the military bases and the army.
In October 2018, Sergei Lavrov, the top Russian diplomat, said: “ the US has planned to establish a territory that would be a kind of prototype of a new state, the idea of the so-called unified Kurdistan”.
Moscow believes that the American support for the Kurds is also a contribution to continue foreign interference in Syria and threaten the unity of the country. Furthermore, Russia's official position is that the US has a legal basis for its military presence in Syria. But in the meantime, it doesn't share the same position regarding Turkey and Iran despite their military intervention in Syria, and of course with Russia itself as well.
This subject was on the table of the negotiations in Kazakh capital, the Astana 13th round of meetings on Syria on 2nd August. Russia with Iran and Turkey as ‘guaranteed countries’ stated that they rejected the Kurdish separatists agenda in North Syria’. All three countries announced their disagreement to the autonomous regions set up by the Syrian Kurds in North Syria, and it would threaten the sovereignty and unity of the country.
Meanwhile, the relations between Russia and Turkey have fluctuated wildly after Moscow's intervention in Syria, in September 2015 to support the Assad's regime, but Moscow's green light for an operation “ Olive Branch” in kurdish areas of Afrin and Turkey’s apparent silence on Eastern Ghouta, shows some parameters in the political bargaining processes.
This shows a contradiction in the official position of Russia over its claim to obtain the territorial unity and sovereignty of Syria and what has been declared in the last round of Astana’s meeting. Consequently, Moscow will not be able to lead any negotiations as neutral party because it has always been standing by the Bashar Al- Assad's regime.
*political analyst
You May Also Like
Popular Posts
Caricature
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.
opinion
Report
ads
Newsletter
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the new updates!