Untitled Agreement [between the People’s Protection Units (YPG) and Free Syrian Army (FSA) Mara’a Operations Room, Afrin, Aleppo]

Export agreement:

Country/entity
Syria
Region
Middle East and North Africa
Agreement name
Untitled Agreement [between the People’s Protection Units (YPG) and Free Syrian Army (FSA) Mara’a Operations Room, Afrin, Aleppo]
Date
3 Dec 2015
Agreement status
Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement
Yes
Agreement/conflict level
Intrastate/local conflict ( Syrian Conflicts (1948 - ) (1976 - 2005) (2011 - ) )
Stage
Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature
Inter-group
Peace process
Syrian Local Agreements
Parties
People's Protection Units (YPG) and Free Syrian Army (FSA) Maraa Operation's Room.
Third parties
-
Description
Short ceasefire agreement between the YPG and the Maraa Operations Room faction of the FSA in Afrin, Aleppo, providing for: (1) a mutual ceasefire; (2) withdrawal of fighters and return of civilians to the area; (3) formation of a committee to solve remaining security issues.

Local agreement properties

Process type
Informal but persistent process
Rationale
-> Local issues only; no external support mechanism; culture of signing There is no formally established mechanism to support the negotiation between the signing parties. Moreover, this agreement cannot be linked to the national peace process. Indeed, both groups oppose the rule of Bashar al-Assad in Syria and reject the idea of a national negotiation to solve the conflict. Yet, it seems that both signing parties choose to solve daily pragmatic issues related to their armed struggle through agreements. Although one cannot speak of a “culture” of singing peace agreements, the parties are involved (in a non-proactive and non-conscious way) in a persistent practice of signing local agreements.
Is there a documented link to a national peace process?
No
Link to national process: articulated rationale
No link to the national peace process in Syria is mentioned in the agreement, neither it can be inferred from further research. First, the agreement does not involve local governance actors; and the signing parties themselves are not official state representative. Second, all parties to the agreement reject the national peace process, as it would maintain Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian government in power.
Name of Locale
Afrin
Nature Of Locale
Region
GPS Lat/Long (DD)
36.510554, 36.866326
Participant type
Local armed group
Mediator, facilitator or similar
No mention of mediator or similar

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture)
Page 1, In the name of God, most Gracious, most Compassionate
Grievance List
Although the agreement does not refer to specific causes of the conflict, it lists three provisions to address local grievances.

Page 1,
1. A mutual ceasefire between the two parties will begin at 8.00 am on Thursday 3/12/2015.
2. A withdrawal of military forces from both sides [to] outside of the battle zone and the return of [civilians from] both sides to the area.
3. To form a committee consisting of [members from] the two parties to resolve all existing security [issues].
Cattle rustling/banditry
No specific mention.
Social cover
No specific mention.

Untitled Agreement [between the People’s Protection Units (YPG) and Free Syrian Army (FSA) Mara’a Operations Room, Afrin, Aleppo]

December 3, 2015

In the name of God, most Gracious, most Compassionate

For reparation purposes, both sides approved the initiative launched by the Shura Council regarding peace in Aleppo.

After consensus, we agreed to:

A mutual ceasefire between the two parties will begin at 8.00 am on Thursday 3/12/2015.

A withdrawal of military forces from both sides [to] outside of the battle zone and the return of [civilians from] both sides to the area.

To form a committee consisting of [members from] the two parties to resolve all existing security [issues].

Released on Thursday 3/12/2015

YPG

FSA

Sentence unclear