Lavrov's messages to the Syrian Kurds
January 22, 2022, 3:53 pm

Zara saleh

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov again has highlighted the importance of the Syrian Kurds to support and maintain Syria's sovereignty and they are the key factor of stabilisation in the region, and they should be represented in the Syrian constitutional committee. Comparing to the Kurdistan Regional Government and federal experience, Lavrov said "the Syrian Kurds should take into consideration the experience of Iraqi Kurds". However, Russian Foreign Minister has warned the Kurds at the same time regarding their relations with the US that they "will not determine the fate of Syria". In other words, he clearly is calling the Syrian Kurds to return back to the Syrian regime by cutting their relations with the US. However, Russia consequently would play mediation role for peace talks between the two parties.

Despite the diplomatic speech of the Russian Foreign Minister, Lavrov had mentioned the Iraqi Kurds experience of federalism that could be passed to the Syrian Kurds as well, he forgets that he had always accused the US of seeking to split Syria and establishing a Kurdish state in north Syria. Furthermore, Lavrov in some his previous interviews had explained that the US is planning to establish a new state in north Syria and “it will be another round of the most dangerous game with Iraqi Kurdistan, the idea of the so-called unified Kurdistan." In contrast, Russia has been failed to play the guarantor role between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian regime to hold a serious negotiation until now as Moscow always has played the regime's spokesman role, seeking to take control over all Syrian territories without any guarantee of the Kurdish rights. Added to that, Lavrov is already aware about the SDF demands during previous talks with the Syrian regime. The Kurdish self-administration should be recognised by Assad's regime in the new Syrian constitution.

On the other hand, the Kurdish self-administration or the Democratic Union Party (PYD) administrator has never mentioned any federal region or state that is based on national and ethnic basis. For example, the PYD spokesman Sama Bakdash had answered to Lavrov's speech, has rejected the comparison between the two examples of the Kurdish experience in Syria and Iraq and she said, " we have a different view about the political solution in Syria". Whereas the PYD and the self-administration is seeking democratic and ecologic federalism in the context of the decentralisation state in Syria which is completely different from the Kurdish federal region in Iraq.

Besides that, the Russian representative for Syria Lavrentyev has recently confirmed that no change will be done regarding the current Syrian constitution that was written in 2012 and he added, "it is a red line for us". Consequently, the Russian Foreign Minister, Lavrov, is continuing the plan of blackmailing Kurds by using the Turkish threats and the carrot and stick policy. Such Russian policy towards Syrian Kurds is aiming to convince them to accept the talks with Assad’s regime without any promises to guarantee the recognition with the self-administration and the secure of the Kurdish rights in the expected Syria’s constitution, as Lavrov is always warning that the US will withdraw its troops from north-eastern Syria that controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces.

BY: Zara Saleh

The Houthis & the Muslim Brotherhood drain Yemen UK foreign minister expected to visit Moscow in February

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.