Field Agreement between the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and People’s Defence Units (YPG) in the city of Ras al-Ain (Serê Kaniyê)

  • Country/entity
    Syria
  • Region
    Middle East and North Africa
  • Agreement name
    Field Agreement between the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and People’s Defence Units (YPG) in the city of Ras al-Ain (Serê Kaniyê)
  • Date
    18 Feb 2013
  • Agreement status
    Multiparty signed/agreed
  • Interim arrangement
    Yes
  • Agreement/conflict level
  • Stage
    Framework/substantive - comprehensive
  • Conflict nature
    Inter-group
  • Peace process
    Syrian Local Agreements
  • Parties
    The Free Syrian Army (FSA);
    People's Defence Units (YPG)
  • Third parties
    -
  • Description
    Coordination agreement between the Free Syrian Army and the People's Defence Units in Ras al-Ain. Agreement provides for a military withdrawal, the non-interference in the city council by armed units, joint-checkpoints between FSA/YPG forces until the city can take over, to secure access and mobility in the city, further cooperation between the YPG and FSA to liberate regime-held cities, end hostile media between the two groups.


Groups

  • Children/youth

    No specific mention.

  • Disabled persons

    No specific mention.

  • Elderly/age

    No specific mention.

  • Migrant workers

    No specific mention.

  • Racial/ethnic/national group

    No specific mention.

  • Religious groups
    Groups→Religious groups→Rhetorical
    Page 1, untitled preamble, Based on our belief in the unity of a free Syrian land and people, and motivated by the commitment to the principles of peaceful coexistence between all components of the Syrian people and rejection of all sectarian, ethnic, chauvinistic and exclusionary approaches. And in order to unite all people in the battle of dignity against the bloody authoritarian regime in order to build a free Syria where all components enjoy their legitimate rights under the banner of ‘Syria for All Syrians’ to be a country that can genuinely express the authenticity and the civilization of the coexistence.
  • Indigenous people

    No specific mention.

  • Other groups

    No specific mention.

  • Refugees/displaced persons

    No specific mention.

  • Social class

    No specific mention.


Gender

  • Women, girls and gender

    No specific mention.

  • Men and boys

    No specific mention.

  • LGBTI

    No specific mention.

  • Family

    No specific mention.


State definition

  • Nature of state (general)

    No specific mention.

  • State configuration

    No specific mention.

  • Self determination

    No specific mention.

  • Referendum

    No specific mention.

  • State symbols

    No specific mention.

  • Independence/secession

    No specific mention.

  • Accession/unification

    No specific mention.

  • Border delimitation

    No specific mention.

  • Cross-border provision

    No specific mention.


Governance

  • Political institutions (new or reformed)

    No specific mention.

  • Elections

    No specific mention.

  • Electoral commission

    No specific mention.

  • Political parties reform

    No specific mention.

  • Civil society

    No specific mention.

  • Traditional/religious leaders

    No specific mention.

  • Public administration

    No specific mention.

  • Constitution

    No specific mention.


Power sharing

  • Political power sharing
    Power sharing→Political power sharing→General
    Sub-state level
    Page 1, 3. To establish by consensus a local civil council that represents the social components to manage all the civic affairs of the town.

    Page 1, 5. Local council represents the sovereign entity in the city, The intervention of military forces in the affairs of the local council is completely prohibited.
  • Territorial power sharing

    No specific mention.

  • Economic power sharing

    No specific mention.

  • Military power sharing
    Power sharing→Military power sharing→Proportionality
    Page 1, 6. To establish common checkpoints between the YPG and the Free Syrian Army at the entrances to the city of Ras al-Ain, until the City Council takes over when it is able to.

Human rights and equality

  • Human rights/RoL general

    No specific mention.

  • Bill of rights/similar

    No specific mention.

  • Treaty incorporation

    No specific mention.

  • Civil and political rights

    No specific mention.

  • Socio-economic rights

    No specific mention.


Rights related issues

  • Citizenship

    No specific mention.

  • Democracy

    No specific mention.

  • Detention procedures

    No specific mention.

  • Media and communication
    Rights related issues→Media and communication→Media roles
    Page 1, 10. To end hostile media campaigns between the two parties.
  • Mobility/access
    Page 1, 7. To facilitate and secure the passage of people, goods and forces of each party across the checkpoints of the other party.
  • Protection measures

    No specific mention.

  • Other

    No specific mention.


Rights institutions

  • NHRI

    No specific mention.

  • Regional or international human rights institutions

    No specific mention.


Justice sector reform

  • Criminal justice and emergency law

    No specific mention.

  • State of emergency provisions

    No specific mention.

  • Judiciary and courts

    No specific mention.

  • Prisons and detention

    No specific mention.

  • Traditional Laws

    No specific mention.


Socio-economic reconstruction

  • Development or socio-economic reconstruction

    No specific mention.

  • National economic plan

    No specific mention.

  • Natural resources

    No specific mention.

  • International funds

    No specific mention.

  • Business

    No specific mention.

  • Taxation

    No specific mention.

  • Banks

    No specific mention.


Land, property and environment

  • Land reform/rights

    No specific mention.

  • Pastoralist/nomadism rights

    No specific mention.

  • Cultural heritage

    No specific mention.

  • Environment

    No specific mention.

  • Water or riparian rights or access

    No specific mention.


Security sector

  • Security Guarantees
    Page 1, 1. Redeployment of military forces and the complete removal of armed manifestations from the town.

    Page 1, 4. The border checkpoint to be managed by the city council.

    Page 1, 5. Local council represents the sovereign entity in the city, The intervention of military forces in the affairs of the local council is completely prohibited.

    Page 1, 6. To establish common checkpoints between the YPG and the Free Syrian Army at the entrances to the city of Ras al-Ain, until the City Council takes over when it is able to.

    Page 1, 7. To facilitate and secure the passage of people, goods and forces of each party across the checkpoints of the other party.

    Page 1, 9. Cities and towns where there is no existence of the regime: Derbassiyeh, Amouda, Tel Tamer, Maabada and Al-Malikihha are considered liberated cities and a should be declared so in a joint statement.
  • Ceasefire

    No specific mention.

  • Police

    No specific mention.

  • Armed forces

    No specific mention.

  • DDR

    No specific mention.

  • Intelligence services

    No specific mention.

  • Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces
    Page 1, 1. Redeployment of military forces and the complete removal of armed manifestations from the town.

    Page 1, 2. To establish a temporary monitoring and follow-up committee agreed upon by both parties, in order to follow up and monitor the implementation of the terms of the agreement.

    Page 1, 5. Local council represents the sovereign entity in the city, The intervention of military forces in the affairs of the local council is completely prohibited.

    Page 1, 6. To establish common checkpoints between the YPG and the Free Syrian Army at the entrances to the city of Ras al-Ain, until the City Council takes over when it is able to.
  • Withdrawal of foreign forces

    No specific mention.

  • Corruption

    No specific mention.

  • Crime/organised crime

    No specific mention.

  • Drugs

    No specific mention.

  • Terrorism

    No specific mention.


Transitional justice

  • Transitional justice general

    No specific mention.

  • Amnesty/pardon

    No specific mention.

  • Courts

    No specific mention.

  • Mechanism

    No specific mention.

  • Prisoner release

    No specific mention.

  • Vetting

    No specific mention.

  • Victims

    No specific mention.

  • Missing persons

    No specific mention.

  • Reparations

    No specific mention.

  • Reconciliation

    No specific mention.


Implementation

  • UN signatory

    No specific mention.

  • Other international signatory

    No specific mention.

  • Referendum for agreement

    No specific mention.

  • International mission/force/similar

    No specific mention.

  • Enforcement mechanism
    Page 1, 2. To establish a temporary monitoring and follow-up committee agreed upon by both parties, in order to follow up and monitor the implementation of the terms of the agreement.
  • Related cases

    No specific mention.

  • Source
    Rim Turkmani, Mary Kaldor et. al., 'Hungry for Peace', LSE/Madani Report, October 2014, p. 33

    Arabic version: Available on wayback machine from https://web.archive.org/web/20130325151326/http://ar.firatnews.com/news/akhr-l-khbr/mrsm-twqy-tfq-mydny-fy-sryh-knyh-byn-ypg-wljysh-lhr.htm

Field agreement between the Free Syrian Army and People’s Defence Units (YPG) in the city of Ras Al‐Ain

Based on our belief in the unity of a free Syrian land and people, and motivated by the commitment to the principles of peaceful coexistence between all components of the Syrian people and rejection of all sectarian, ethnic, chauvinistic and exclusionary approaches.

And in order to unite all people in the battle of dignity against the bloody authoritarian regime in order to build a free Syria where all components enjoy their legitimate rights under the banner of ‘Syria for All Syrians’ to be a country that can genuinely express the authenticity and the civilization of the coexistence.

For all of this, the parties meeting in Ras Al Ain agreed to resolve all the arising conflicts and disagreements according to the following principles:

1‐ Redeployment of military forces and the complete removal of armed manifestations from the town.

2‐ To establish a temporary monitoring and follow‐up committee agreed upon by both parties, in order to follow up and monitor the implementation of the terms of the agreement.

3‐ To establish by consensus a local civil council that represents the social components to manage all the civic affairs of the town.

4‐ The border checkpoint to be managed by the city council.

5‐ Local council represents the sovereign entity in the city, The intervention of military forces in the affairs of the local council is completely prohibited.

6‐ To establish common checkpoints between the YPG and the Free Syrian Army at the entrances to the city of Ras al‐Ain, until the City Council takes over when it is able to.

7‐ To facilitate and secure the passage of people, goods and forces of each party across the checkpoints of the other party.

8‐ Cooperation and coordination between the Free Syrian Army and YPG to liberate cities that are still under the regime control.

9‐ Cities and towns where there is no existence of the regime:

Derbassiyeh, Amouda, Tel Tamer, Maabada and Al‐Malikihha are considered liberated cities and a should be declared so in a joint statement.

10‐ To end hostile media campaigns between the two parties.

11‐ The introduction part of this agreement is considered an essential term of the agreement.

Signatories

Free Syrian Army

People’s Defence Units (YPG)