Daily Times

The UN Security Council (UNSC) unanimously approved a resolution endorsing an international roadmap for a Syrian peace process, a rare show of unity among major powers on a conflict that has claimed more than a quarter of a million lives. The UN gave its blessings to a plan negotiated earlier in Vienna that calls for a ceasefire, talks between the Syrian government and opposition, and roughly a two-year timeline to create a unity government and hold elections. But this concept of formation of a national unity government for Syria is not new. It was earlier endorsed by former UN Special Envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and the Arab League since the start of the Syrian conflict. At that time no serious efforts were made in this direction as a show of strength was going on between regional and international players over the Syrian issue. Everyone was promoting and supporting their proxies in the Syrian arena, which has caused a lot of destruction and suffering for the Syrian people. Now all the parties in the Syrian conflict have realised that there cannot be a clear-cut military victory. Moreover, there is an emerging consensus that the Assad regime would likely be pivotal in fortifying the Syrian state and preventing further gains by the Islamic State (IS) group, which has taken an advantage of war chaos and has seized vast territory in Syria.

Despite their agreement at the UN, the major powers are bitterly divided on who may represent the opposition and over the future of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The US says that the Syria conflict should be solved in accordance with the Geneva Communiqué that set the goal of transition of power to a broad government spanning loyalists and rebels but maintains that Assad should play no role in the future of Syria. While Russia, the staunchest backer of the Syrian government, endorsed the Geneva Communiqué but regarding the fate of Mr Assad says it should only be decided by the Syrians. However, at the same time, the UNSC resolution signals a strong desire of the major powers to find common ground on Syria and push for a political settlement, irrespective of their divergent interests. The rival powers are putting pressure on their Syrian allies to indulge in negotiations and talks. Saudi Arabia is putting pressure on the Syrian opposition and rebels, which its supports to form a unified front before entering into formal talks with the government. On the other hand, Russian and Iranians are making President Bashar al-Assad agree to share or even transfer power to the hands of a unity government.

But this time the Syrian peace talks should be compressive and should only exclude extremist elements like IS and the Nusra Front. The talks should include the government of Bashar al- Assad, opposition groups like the Syrian National Coalition, the Damascus-based National Coordination Committee, representatives of the Free Syrian Army, Southern Front and, most importantly, Kurdish groups. The first step in this direction of forming a national unity government can be a nationwide ceasefire between opposition groups and the Syrian government, which can be monitored by UN observers. This will act as a confidence building measure and will create the right cordial atmosphere before the talks. But this ceasefire will not apply to IS, the Nusra Front and other extremist groups otherwise they will take advantage of it to regroup and reinforce themselves.

When the broad consensus emerges between Damascus and opposition groups to form a transnational government then other important issues like conducting free and fair elections, drafting of a new constitution and national rebuilding can be addressed as well. Gradually, there will be a need to nationalise the rebellion, disarming the militia groups and restoring the state’s monopoly over weapons. Only then can a stronger Syrian state fight the war against jihadists as well as rebuild shattered lives. Syrians have experienced uninterrupted dictatorship for 40 years, extreme economic hardships and now this bloody civil war. But Syrians are remarkably resilient, resourceful people as well as being young and highly educated. Syria, as a nation, requires a national dialogue overseen by the international community, aimed at bolstering internal unity and thus at protecting the country from regional interference.

If international assistance is provided in developing Syria’s democratic institutions and political infrastructure, they can build a robust civil society that can assert its own identity and sovereignty, independent of undue outside influence. A new Syria, based on democratic principles, would not only benefit Syrians, but would be a force for stability throughout the whole region. So, this time, Syrian peace talks should be supported by everyone as it is in the interest of everyone to keep the Middle East stable and peaceful. A Syrian bloody conflict has all the potential to spread in the region and will affect regional political dynamics for years, perhaps decades, exacerbating a wider Shia versus Sunni sectarian conflict in the region.

The writer is a columnist for the Middle East and Af-Pak region and is editor of geo-political news agency ViewsAround. He can be reached at manishraiva@gmail.com