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developments concerning Syrian refugees in Turkey

developments concerning Syrian refugees in Turkey
Situation statement- Naif Shaaban
To avoid falling into panic over recent developments concerning Syrian refugees in Turkey and the current situation in the north involving Syrians and Turkish interests.
First, let’s clarify that this article is not intended to escalate tensions or incite hostility against Turks. Since its inception, the revolution has sought a special relationship with the Turkish government. Statements by Turkish officials in support of the Syrian revolution have reinforced this idea, starting with the Turkish leadership’s promise to pray in the Umayyad Mosque and including the golden slogan of Turkish officials: “Brotherhood knows no borders.”
However, the resurgence of the Agha and Pasha mentality, along with treating Syrians in their own land as tenth-class citizens and imposing political, economic, social, and military control, has sidelined the revolution’s interests and led us to the current situation.
The Bab al-Hawa crossing operates based on a UN decision and can only be closed by a UN resolution. While the Turkish government has the ability to close it, doing so would cause them to lose several current and future political and economic privileges
The decision rests with the United States, and the US administration would be pleased to open a crossing via Erbil, which could potentially extend to Kasab.
Turkey is surrounded by adversaries, and currently, its only ally is the Syrian revolution. Russia remains its fiercest foe, as Istanbul (Constantinople) has been a Russian ambition since the era of Peter the Great.
The current rise of Turanism has awakened and nourished Arab nationalism, providing an opportunity for Gulf states and Egypt to support this movement in defiance of Turkey.
De-escalation zones are a decision endorsed by the United States, with implementation by Russia, Iran, and Turkey, and the battle does not favor the regime or Iran.
The United States may offer the revolution an alliance with the SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces), which has been receiving daily shipments of American weapons for the past seven years, as the US prepares them for such scenarios.
--- The Turks need to define the nature of their relationship with Syrians in the liberated areas. Is it:
An ally?
A mandate?
An occupation?
Protective forces?
A military presence solely interested in Turkey’s benefit, disregarding the interests of the Syrians who have made sacrifices?
Any answer to the above will require Turkey to treat the revolution as an equal, not in a master-servant dynamic. Those days are over, and the Agha and Pasha era will not return. We will not be intimidated by the threat of another Thessaloniki, as the Syrian revolution still possesses resilience.
We posed these questions to the Turks a year ago, and the envoy (if he indeed delivered them) was apprehensive about such inquiries, considering them overly bold.
We hope to maintain a special relationship with the Turks, one that respects that Syrians in their land are landowners, not servants, and that Syrians in Turkey are refugees under international laws and agreements signed by Turkey, which have brought significant benefits to Turkey. They should be treated and judged within the rule of law, not left as prey to street thugs.
The key point is that this movement is calculated, not random. The reaction of the Syrians shows that they are free individuals, not sheep to be tamed. Perhaps Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Turkey, Iran, and Russia are racing against time to stabilize the fool in Damascus before Trump returns with uncertainty, but they may have acted too hastily and possibly burned their fingers.
This is my perspective, not binding on anyone, but it serves as a starting point for assessing losses and gains.
Naif Shaaban
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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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