Pedersen: Suwayda Is Not Like the Syrian Coast — Loyalty to the State Cannot Be Imposed by Force
ARK News.. The UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, stated that the recent escalation in Suwayda is fundamentally different in nature from events in Syria’s coastal regions.
In an interview with Al-Majalla, Pedersen explained that while the clashes in the coastal areas appeared to be initiated by remnants of the Assad regime against General Security forces, the escalation in Suwayda "could have been avoided if all parties had acted differently."
Pedersen welcomed the ceasefire in southern Syria, and called for "a genuine and inclusive dialogue between authorities in Damascus and local actors in Suwayda to reach lasting security and administrative arrangements that preserve state institutions while enabling the people of Suwayda to play a central role in governing their own affairs."
He emphasized that applying the principle of sovereignty rigidly, without recognizing the specific nature of the transitional phase, is a flawed approach. “Loyalty to the state cannot be enforced through military power. It develops when citizens feel represented, protected, and treated equally by their government,” Pedersen said.
He also stressed that ensuring stability in both Suwayda and northeastern Syria must be a top priority for the authorities in Damascus, adding that true security and stability are inseparable from a successful political transition — the two cannot be treated as unrelated issues.
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French Prosecutors Urge Court to Uphold International Arrest Warrant for Bashar al-Assad
ARK News.. France’s Public Prosecutor’s Office has called for the confirmation of an international arrest warrant against deposed Syrian regime leader Bashar al-Assad, accusing him of complicity in crimes against humanity over the use of chemical weapons in rural Damascus during the summer of 2013.
During a hearing before France’s highest judicial body, the Court of Cassation, judges debated whether presidential immunity can be lifted when a head of state is charged with war crimes or crimes against humanity.
This development follows a June 2024 ruling by the Paris Court of Appeal that validated the international arrest warrant for Assad, according to the Sham Network.
France’s counter terrorism prosecutor and the Paris appeals office had challenged that decision, citing the principle of absolute immunity enjoyed by sitting heads of state.
However, Rémy Heitz, the Attorney General at the Court of Cassation, argued that France has not considered Assad a legitimate head of state since 2012, thereby making an exception to immunity possible.
Heitz acknowledged that international law upholds the principle of state sovereignty and non-interference, but suggested immunity should be lifted in Assad’s case due to the scale of crimes attributed to his regime.
The Court of Cassation is expected to deliver its final ruling on July 25, in a decision widely seen as a potential legal precedent in international justice.
The arrest warrant relies on several case files, including the killing of Franco-Syrian citizen Salah Abu Nabout in 2017, whose home in Daraa was bombed by regime helicopters—a strike French prosecutors say was ordered by Assad.
An earlier arrest warrant was issued for Assad in November 2023, holding him responsible for the 2013 chemical attacks in Eastern Ghouta and Doma, which killed hundreds and injured thousands.
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Legal Office of the Kurdish National Council Elects New Leadership
ARK News..The Legal Office of the Kurdish National Council (KNC) in Syria held its annual conference on Monday, June 2, 2025, in the "Immortal Barzani" Hall in the city of Qamishlo, with KNC President Muhammad Ismail in attendance.
During the conference, participants discussed a range of important legal and human rights issues, most notably the formation of specialized committees to follow up on the cases of missing persons and Kurdish political detainees, particularly those held in the prisons of the former regime. The discussions also focused on strengthening mechanisms for defending the rights of Kurdish citizens in Syria.
At the conclusion of the conference, a new leadership body for the Legal Office was elected to continue advancing the legal and human rights agenda of the Kurdish people in Syria.
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الجامعة الكوردية-الألمانية تفتح أبوابها أمام الطلبة بنهاية 2026
يواصل الدكتور يونس بهرام، الأكاديمي والمشرف على مشروع الجامعة الكوردية-الألمانية الدولية، العمل على مبادرة أكاديمية طموحة من شأنها أن تشكّل منعطفًا مهمًا في مسار التعليم العالي الكوردي في أوروبا، في قلب مدينة درسدن شرق ألمانيا.
يؤكد الدكتور بهرام، الذي يدير مكتبه في المدينة الألمانية، أن الجامعة الجديدة، التي تحمل طابعًا مزدوجًا كوردياً وألمانياً، من المقرر أن تفتتح أبوابها أمام الطلبة بحلول نهاية عام 2026.
د. يونس بهرام – مشرف مشروع الجامعة الكوردية-الألمانية الدولية قال في تصريح صحفي إن "هذه الجامعة كوردية وألمانية في آنٍ واحد، وستكون معترفاً بها على مستوى ألمانيا. نخطط لبدء الدراسة فيها مع نهاية عام 2026."
وستكون هذه المؤسسة أول جامعة كوردية من نوعها في ألمانيا، حيث سيتم تدريس تخصصات متنوعة مثل الكوردولوجيا، الأدب، والهندسة، بثلاث لغات: الكوردية (السورانية والكرمانجية)، الإنجليزية، والألمانية. وستستند الجامعة إلى شراكات علمية مع جامعات في إقليم كوردستان، منها جامعة كوردستان في أربيل وجامعة نوروز في دهوك.
وأكد د. يونس بهرام أنه"سيتم اعتماد اللهجتين السورانية والكرمانجية في التدريس، ونعمل على توسيع علاقاتنا مع جامعات كوردية أخرى داخل الإقليم".
ويعدّ تأسيس هذه الجامعة استجابة لحاجة متزايدة لدى الجالية الكوردية في ألمانيا، التي لطالما أسست منظمات ثقافية واجتماعية، لكنها تفتقر لمؤسسات أكاديمية متخصصة تعزز الهوية واللغة الكوردية في الشتات.
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President Barzani: We Fully Support the Success of the Peace Process in Turkey
ARK News.. President Masoud Barzani expressed his full support for the ongoing peace process in Turkey, voicing optimism about recent positive steps taken by the involved parties. In a statement issued on Monday, May 12, Barzani welcomed the constructive positions adopted and the efforts made toward a peaceful resolution.
The full text of President Barzani’s message reads:
In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate,
It is encouraging to see the parties involved in the peace process in Turkey adopting constructive positions and taking meaningful steps toward a peaceful solution. The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has also convened its congress and issued a number of resolutions.
We hope this process will lead to positive outcomes that serve the interests of the region and all its peoples.
We hereby declare our full support for the success of this process through all possible means.
Masoud Barzani
May 12, 2025
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Final Statement of the Kurdish Unity and Common Position Conference Issued in Qamishlo
ARK News.. Following the conclusion of the Kurdish Unity and Common Position Conference held, Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Qamishlo, the final statement was issued, in which participants adopted the Joint Kurdish Political Vision as a founding document representing a collective will and offering a realistic approach for a just and comprehensive solution to the Kurdish issue within a unified Syria characterized by its multiethnic, multireligious, and multicultural identity.
Text of the Final Statement:
The Kurdish Unity and Common Position Conference was held on April 26, 2025, in Rojava, Kurdistan (Qamishlo city), following intensive dialogues and commendable efforts by friends and allies. The conference witnessed the participation of Kurdish political parties, civil society organizations, women’s movements, and independent Kurdish societal figures from across Kurdish regions in Syria. The aim was to adopt a unified Kurdish vision regarding the reconstruction of a new Syria and to work toward a just resolution of the Kurdish issue at this crucial historical juncture.
After the fall of the authoritarian regime in Damascus on December 8, 2024—a regime responsible for widespread repression, displacement, and devastation—the Syrian people, including Kurds, made immense sacrifices to achieve freedom and dignity. The Kurdish people, in particular, contributed thousands of martyrs and maintained their national struggle in alignment with the broader Syrian democratic movement.
Driven by historical responsibility and the urgent demands of the current stage, a Joint Kurdish Political Vision was formulated. This vision calls for a decentralized, democratic Syria where the rights of all components, including the Kurdish people, are constitutionally recognized and protected, in accordance with international human rights conventions, while empowering women to fully participate in political and social institutions.
The conference unanimously endorsed this Joint Kurdish Political Vision as the foundation for future national dialogue—both among Kurdish political forces themselves and between Kurdish representatives and the new administration in Damascus, as well as other Syrian national forces. The vision promotes building a new, inclusive Syria, free from exclusion or marginalization, based on pluralism and mutual respect, while preserving regional and international relations and contributing to peace and stability in the region.
In conclusion, the conference resolved to form a joint Kurdish delegation as soon as possible to translate this vision into political reality through engagement and dialogue with all relevant parties.
Qamishlo, April 26, 2025
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المجلس الوطني الكوردي يناقش آخر تطورات كونفرانس وحدة الصف والموقف الكوردي
ناقش المجلس الوطني الكوردي وحدة الصف الكوردي، وآخر التطورات حول انعقاد الكونفراس والعمل من أجل نجاحه.
عقد المجلس الوطني الكوردي اليوم الخميس 24 نيسان 2025، اجتماعا في مقر الحزب الديمقراطي الكوردستاني – سوريا بمدينة قامشلو بكوردستان سوريا.
وفق إعلام المجلس الوطني الكوردي في سوريا تم مناقشة وحدة الصف الكوردي خلال الاجتماع، والوقوف على آخر التطورات حول انعقاد الكونفراس والعمل من أجل نجاحه يعد خطوة مهمة في تاريخ كوردستان سوريا.
وفق المصدر سيتم خلال الكونفرانس تحديد وحدة الصف الكوردي وبعدها سيتم تشكيل وفد مشترك للذهاب إلى دمشق وتحقيق مطالب الشعب الكوردي في سوريا المستقبل بعد سقوط النظام السابق.
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Nechirvan Barzani and Emmanuel Macron Discuss Syria and Regional Stability
ARK New.. On Monday afternoon, April 14, 2025, Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region, was officially received at the Élysée Palace in Paris by French President Emmanuel Macron.
During a bilateral meeting, the two leaders discussed ways to strengthen relations between France, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Region, and to expand mutual cooperation. President Nechirvan Barzani expressed his gratitude and appreciation for France’s continued support, and for President Macron’s steadfast backing of both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
Both leaders reaffirmed their shared desire to deepen bilateral relations and further develop cooperation across all sectors. They emphasized the importance of maintaining Iraq’s security and stability, and of shielding the country from the complexities of broader regional tensions.
A key part of their discussion focused on the latest developments in the Middle East, particularly the situation in Syria, the ongoing threat of terrorism, and the persistent danger posed by ISIS. The two presidents underscored the importance of safeguarding the rights of Kurds and other communities in Syria and stressed the need for dialogue and mutual understanding to achieve peaceful resolutions to the region’s challenges.
The meeting also covered a range of other issues of mutual interest and concern.
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34th Anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 688 in Support of Kurdistan
ARK News.. On Saturday, April 5, 2025, marks the 34th anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 688, which was passed in favor of Kurdistan, effectively prohibiting Iraqi warplanes from flying over Kurdish airspace.
The resolution was adopted on April 5, 1991, following a joint letter submitted to the United Nations by France, Iran, and Turkey, expressing grave concern over the tragic political events unfolding in Iraq—particularly the 1991 popular uprising. The letter urged the Iraqi government to cease its attacks on the Kurdish people in Iraqi Kurdistan and to prevent the Ba’ath regime from targeting Kurdish civilians.
The Security Council adopted Resolution 688 with 10 votes in favor, 3 against (Yemen, Zimbabwe, and Cuba), and 2 abstentions (China and India).
France and the United States later used the resolution as a legal basis to establish a no-fly zone over northern Iraq (Kurdistan, north of the 36th parallel) to protect displaced civilians fleeing brutal crackdowns by the Ba’ath regime.
Resolution 688 included six provisions under Chapter VI and thirteen under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. The first paragraph condemned the aerial bombardment of civilian populations in various parts of Iraq, including those in Iraqi Kurdistan. It called on Iraq to eliminate threats to international peace and security and to respect the human rights of its citizens.
The Council further condemned the repression of civilian populations and urged Iraq to grant international humanitarian organizations access to affected regions to deliver aid and essential supplies.
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President Barzani: The Wound and Pain of the Halabja Chemical Attack Will Forever Remain in the Hearts of Kurdistanis
ARK News.. President Masoud Barzani published a message on the "X" platform marking the 37th anniversary of the chemical attack on Halabja.
Full Text of President Barzani’s Message:
"The wound and pain of the heinous crime of Halabja’s chemical bombing will forever remain etched in the hearts and memories of all Kurdish people. It is an unforgettable tragedy that will always be present in our collective consciousness.
The responsibility for this crime against humanity, including its consequences, impacts, and compensation for the victims' families, lies with the Iraqi state. On this solemn occasion, as we commemorate the 37th anniversary of the Halabja chemical massacre, we honor the souls of the heroic martyrs of Halabja, as well as their families and all those who suffered due to this atrocity."
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