Jwan Dibo

On November 23, a delegation from the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), the political wing of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), visited Moscow at the official invitation of the Russian Foreign Ministry. According to statements issued by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) and SDC, the meetings dealt with common files between the two sides. For example, the future of the political settlement in Syria and how to conduct new rounds of dialogue between the Kurds and the Syrian regime under Russian auspices.

A short time ago, Russia accused the Kurds in Syria, who lead AANES, SDC, and SDF, of adopting separatist inclinations under the patronage of the US. But now Moscow is receiving the same Kurds and discussing with them several important Syrian issues. In order to understand the Russian policy towards the Kurds in Syria, it is necessary to put this policy in its political context, at least since 2015.

Since the Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war in late 2015, Russian-Kurdish ties in Syria have not been stable. These relationships have oscillated between ambiguity, uncertainty, and loss of trust.
The disparity is very enormous between the Russian agendas in Syria and the Kurdish aspirations in the framework of the new post-2011 Syria. The Russian goal is to protect the Assad regime from collapse and rehabilitate it again in order to find a lasting foothold in the Middle East. While the aim of the Kurds in Syria, regardless of their political affiliation, is to build a democratic federal Syria in which the Kurds, like others, enjoy their rights. This is the primary disagreement, and the rest of the disputes stem from this root.

Russian-Kurdish relations in Syria deteriorated in conjunction with the US support for Kurdish fighters in the city of Kobani during the resistance to the ISIS attack in late 2014. This date marked the beginning of US-Kurdish cooperation in Syria, despite the setbacks it experienced during Trump administration. Since then, Moscow's objective has been to co-opt the Kurds in favour of its policies in Syria and urge them to distance themselves from Washington.
Since Turkey intervened militarily in Syria in 2016, Russia has exploited this point to intimidate the Kurds, who allied themselves with the Americans. Since then, Moscow has mediated between AANES, SDC, and SDF on the one hand, and the Syrian regime on the other hand. The Russian mediation was and still seeks to reach a settlement that would lead to the restoration of the Syrian regime’s control over the entire territory controlled by the US-backed SDF without giving any significant rights to the Kurds. When the Kurds declined to submit to the unfair Russian-Syrian conditions, then Russia wanted to punish the Kurds.

At the beginning of 2018, the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), which constitute the main pillar of SDF, received the first betrayal from Russia when it allowed Turkey to invade and occupy the Kurdish city of Afrin. But Moscow did not stop blackmailing the Kurds whenever Erdogan's Turkey threatened to launch a new attack against their positions and persuade them to engage in dialogue with the Syrian regime, which according to Russian logic means the unconditional surrender to the Syrian regime. In this context, Moscow benefited from the US treachery of the Kurds when Trump administration permitted Turkey to launch another assault against the Kurds in October 2019.

The new - old Russian call for the Kurds to dialogue with the Syrian regime does not stem from a principled basis with the aim of granting the Kurds their rights, ending the Syrian tragedy, and achieving national reconciliation between the warring parties. Moscow does not invite the Kurds to dialogue with the Assad regime only after they become susceptible to Turkish threats.

Russia does not have a strategy for a solution to the Kurdish issue in Syria, although it sometimes talks about the possibility of granting the Kurds in Syria a similar situation to the Kurds in Iraq. In practice, Moscow supports the Syrian regime in its false dialogue with the Kurds and does not exert any pressure on the Assad regime to make some concessions to the Kurds.
The solution to the Kurdish issue in Syria is part of the issue of democracy in Syria in general, and since Moscow is hostile to the idea of a new, democratic, and pluralistic Syria, it is practically against solving the Kurdish issue in Syria. Moscow is seeking to achieve reconciliation between the Kurds and the Assad regime, along the lines of what has been called ‘national reconciliations’ in several afflicted Syrian cities and towns, which led to the Assad regime re-establishing its influence in those areas and the surrender or displacement of opponents.

Furthermore, to creating a rift between the Kurds and Washington that would gradually lead the Kurds to leave the American alliance in Syria. The Kurds' options are very limited, especially as they are divided and not united. Simply the Kurds are between the Turkish hammer and the Russian-Syrian anvil. Particularly, in the absence of a transparent American strategy regarding the future of Syria and the future of the Kurdish issue and rights.

BY: Jwan Dibo

Indigenous Australian people given say on new cultural protection agreement Fifty Shades of Haftar

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.