As per Article 5 of the 14-point agreement signed on April 1 between the General Council of Sheikh Maqsoud (Şêxmeqsûd) and Ashrafiyah (Eşrefiyê) neighborhoods and representatives of the Damascus administration, the first steps were taken today to transfer the checkpoints in these neighborhoods and the surrounding areas of Aleppo under joint control and to remove the earth barriers.

Transportation routes in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah, which had been closed for about 4 months due to security reasons, were reopened. Barriers were also removed through the joint efforts of the People's Assembly and Aleppo Municipality.

On the other hand, the checkpoints surrounding the neighborhoods have been transformed into security points to be jointly managed by the Internal Security Forces and the “General Security Authority” affiliated to the Damascus government.

There are seven main security points around both neighborhoods, namely Cezîre, Ewarid, Cendol Junction, Lêremon, Şîhan Junction, Park Point and Telet Eşrefiyê.

One of the representatives of the agreement, Suraqa Emorî, an official from the General Security Authority of the Damascus government, told ANHA that they would work to release the detainees immediately after the removal of the barriers and the reconstruction of the seven checkpoints under joint management.

“From now on, the joint security institutions will protect civilians against possible threats and attacks,” Emorî said.

He pointed out that removing the barriers and sharing the management of the checkpoints was a first step to ensure safe movement before the release of the remaining detainees, adding that the process of releasing detainees from both sides is ongoing without interruption and is expected to be completed soon.