UN Resolution On Syria Secures Assad’s Position For Two More Years
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad appears to have secured at least another two years in power after the UN Security Council (UNSC) adopted a resolution last week calling for regime-opposition talks and a period of “political transition” to last until Syrian elections are held in mid-2017.
Ongoing Russian airstrikes in Syria, meanwhile, continue to claim numerous civilian lives, while a number of Syrian opposition groups demand Assad’s immediate departure from the political stage.
On Friday, the UNSC unanimously adopted Resolution 2254, which calls for “formal negotiations” between the Assad regime and Syrian opposition groups aimed at initiating a “political transition process” to begin no later than January of next year.
These talks – which, according to the resolution, should be accompanied by a nationwide cease-fire — are intended to yield a transitional government tasked with initiating constitutional reforms before general elections are held in June 2017.
The notion of elections in Syria, however, raises a host of questions — especially given the fact that large swathes of the country are now controlled by the Daesh militant group, some 4.5 million Syrians have fled the country and about eight million others have been internally displaced.
As it currently stands, therefore, the envisioned vote could only be held in regime-controlled or pro-regime areas of the war-torn country.
What’s more, the UNSC resolution does not specify whether Assad himself would play a role in the called-for “political transition” period.
Russia, meanwhile, the Assad regime’s primary ally, has consistently attempted to weaken the position of the Syrian opposition.
On Dec. 9 and 10, Riyadh hosted a number of moderate Syrian opposition groups, which agreed to establish a team tasked with negotiating with the Assad regime in upcoming talks.
These groups, however, believe Assad and his clique should not play a role in the anticipated transitional stage.
At the same time, the PYD — the Syrian offshoot of the terrorist PKK organization — held an alternative meeting attended by a number of so-called opposition groups, including the Change and Salvation Front, the Nationalist Social Syria Party and the National Will Party.
Another question posed by Resolution 2254 is how, under the current circumstances, the called-for cease-fire will be implemented.
Some opposition groups demand guarantees of Assad’s removal before they sign on to a cease-fire. Insisting on such guarantees, however, would potentially open them up to charges that they were hindering the peace process.
Resolution 2254 also calls for the provision of humanitarian assistance in Syria and the creation of a safe environment for the return of Syrian refugees from neighboring countries.
Russian airstrikes
Russia, meanwhile, continues to carry out frequent airstrikes in Syria, resulting in a steadily-mounting civilian death toll.
On Dec. 18, 16 Syrians were killed when Russian warplanes attacked Jasr as-Shugur in Syria’s Idlib province. The following day, another eight people were killed in Russian airstrikes in Aleppo.
And on Dec. 20, Russian warplanes targeted a courthouse in Idlib, leaving 40 civilians dead, while another 13 were killed in a separate attack on northern Aleppo’s Kafr Nabude district.
Editor’s note: This article has been edited from the source material Original article
I hope Syria will be united again and becomes a stable country and a source for the prosperity of the Arab World. I hope all Syrian people will be back to their country safe and I wish the Syrian people will liberate their country from all foreign occupation. We have to inform these newspapers, writers, and politicians who always state that Assad must go in order to solve the Syrian War that logic and empirical data show that this proposition cannot stand or wrong. Assad must go is actually means the continuation of the war, because he does not like to go. He will continue fighting and he is winning. He has a very strong army and has been supported internally by his own people. In addition, he has Russia on his side and Iran. Hizab Allah’s strong fighters are dying for him and for Syria. Many Iraqis are also sacrificing their lives for him. Moreover, Daesh and other terrorist organizations are fighting in Syria, and Turkey has become the main supporter for these terrorist organizations. The entire world knows and sees what has been happening. Daesh is losing ground even in the Muslim world, because their teaching and practices have nothing to do with Islam. Islam always protects humanity and has never aimed at killing people (Muslims or non-Muslims). Islam has never indicated that women are sold and raped, nor has Islam stated that symbols of civilization must be destroyed. Daesh’s practices are not related to Islam and most likely been taught by foreign intelligent organizations. Therefore, all important variables do demonstrate that Assad has become stronger, and no strong leader goes. Bashar AL Assad will be in world politics for a long period of time.