1/5 A lot is at stake on #Syria this week: sanctions, humanitarian pledges, crossborder assistance, intra Kurdish reconciliation. This fragmentation of issues reflect the consequence of the war but it is key to keep track of everything. #Syrianpuzzle
2/5 Debates on #CeasarAct are on in Washington. Key Qs: will that immediately lead to new sanctions, incl. on third countries working with the regime? Will that effectively target the regime or mostly increase civilian suffering? https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/the-caesar-act-comes-into-force-part-1-increasing-the-assad-regimes-isolati
The Caesar Act Comes Into Force (Part 1): Increasing the Assad Regime’s Isolation

New Syria sanctions signal bipartisan support for continued diplomatic isolation and economic coercion, but their impact ultimately depends on whether the executive branch is willing to prioritize...

https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/the-caesar-act-comes-into-force-part-1-increasing-the-assad-regimes-isolati
3/5 Donors, UN and NGOs are also gathering for #SyriaConf2020 in Brussels to discuss humanitarian needs and financial pledges (to be announced during ministerial meeting on June 29th). Key Qs: how COVID will impact pledges? Will diversion of aid to regime loyalists be addressed?
4/5 Meanwhile in NY, negos are ongoing at the #UNSC abt renewal of the UN crossborder mechanism. Key Qs: Will #Russia & #China veto to increase Damascus' control over NGOs? Will a solution be found to improve medical access to NE #Syria? https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/06/19/world/europe/ap-un-united-nations-syria-aid-delivery.html
Draft UN Resolution Calls for Three Aid Crossings to Syria

A draft U.N. resolution would maintain two border crossing points from Turkey to deliver humanitarian aid to Syria’s mainly rebel-held northwest and reopen an Iraqi crossing to the northeast to...

https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/06/19/world/europe/ap-un-united-nations-syria-aid-delivery.html
5/5 And in NE Syria, Syrian Kurds part of the Syrian opposition and Syrian Kurds running the US-led SDF found an interim agreement. Key Qs: will this be enough to reunite Syrian Kurds? Will that open the door for deconfliction with Turkey? https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2020/06/syria-kurdish-groups-unity-turkey-erdogan-kobane-trump.html
Turkey mum as Syrian Kurds take 'historical step' in unity talks

Syria's rival Kurdish groups have announced their initial agreement on a Kurdish unity plan following US-mediated talks that began in April.

https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2020/06/syria-kurdish-groups-unity-turkey-erdogan-kobane-trump.html
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