The EU highlights the “vital” agreement between the Syrian Government and the SDF

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy, Kaja Kallas, highlighted this Monday the “vital” agreement reached the day before between the Syrian Government and the Kurdish-Arab militias of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) for a ceasefire, the integration of the militia into the Syrian Army and the assumption of military and civil authority in eastern Syria by the central Government.

“The ceasefire between the Syrian provisional authorities and the SDF is a vital step to prevent the country from falling back into instability and to consolidate the functions of the State,” Kallas said in a statement.

The head of European diplomacy has called for the “immediate cessation” of all hostilities and compliance with all agreements, as well as the protection of civilians.

“The EU’s objective remains a genuinely inclusive transition in Syria. For this to happen, the integration of military, security and civil institutions into unified state structures, as well as political and local participation, is essential,” argued Kallas.

For the head of European diplomacy, “the full protection of Kurdish rights” and the “renewed commitment” of the Syrian authorities within the Global Coalition against “a resurgence of the Islamic State” are also crucial.

This Sunday the Syrian Government announced a ceasefire agreement and integration of the military and civil institutions of the Autonomous Administration for North and East Syria (AANES) into the central Syrian institutions, which in practice means its dissolution for official purposes in exchange for the integration of some FDS commanders into the Armed Forces.

The agreement has been announced in the midst of a military offensive by the Army and allied militias in Aleppo, Raqqa, Hasaka and Deir Ezzor and reports by the SDF of brutal crimes perpetrated by pro-government forces. The SDF has confirmed the signing of the agreement “to avoid a civil war” while its main support, the US military forces in Syria, have turned a deaf ear to its requests for help against the Damascus offensive.