A Correspondent/Jeddah
Four leading lights of the Arab world have called for the convening of the second Syrian National Congress to save Syria.
“This is the only way (out),” say Abdelelah Alkhatib, former foreign minister of Jordan; Amr Moussa, former secretary-general of the Arab League; Mohamed al-Sabah, former deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs of Kuwait; and Turki al-Faisal, former general intelligence director of Saudi Arabia.
They explained their proposal in an article published in Saudi Arabia’s English language newspaper Arab News yesterday.
“This tragic situation would not have happened had the Syrian regime acted wisely, responsibly, and realistically. It did not,” they said. “The misery and decimation could also have been avoided had the international community fulfilled its duty and obligations to safeguard international peace and security. It did not. The Arab League, the international powers, the Syrian government - all have failed in their efforts to salvage the national unity of Syria by replacing the bloodshed and devastation with peace and security,” the four said in the article.
They said unless the world deals courageously with Syria, the atrocity within its borders will continue. “We will never defeat Daesh, the Nusra Front and their likes as long as there is fertile soil from which they can resurrect and mutate into far more lethal breeds. Solving Syria is not only a humanitarian issue; it is directly related to a victory over terror.”
The only way to solve the crisis, according to them, is to allow the Syrian people to decide their future. “They must be given a voice and a venue away from the regime that has ravaged them. They must be offered deliberative immunity from the terror groups that have hijacked their aspirations. They must also be allowed to chart their future free from regional and international interference.”
They proposed the convening of a second Syrian National Congress. “It will be open to representatives of all Syrian political and social forces. If we can bring civil society organisations together with representatives of cities, towns, villages and tribes - both those who fight for and against the regime - we will create a formidable vehicle for weaving a harmonious and solid accord on a political system and constitution that can help the Syrian people save their society and realise their quest,” they said.
According to them, the National Congress should be based on and abide by the following principles:
lSince supporters and opponents of the regime agree that the Syrian people have the right to self-determination, all parties should be morally and legally bound to entrust their national destiny to the Syrian people by granting them the freedom to choose their representatives to the National Congress.
lIn consultation with the Arab League, the UN secretary general should gather all representatives of the Syrian people and convene such a National Congress. This will also entail the Security Council of the UN imposing, under Chapter 7 of the Charter of the UN, a ceasefire between the regime and opposition forces for six months in order that the Syrian people may choose their representatives.
lAn independent international commission should be established for drawing up all necessary procedures whereby the National Congress may fully represent the Syrian people.
lThe National Congress should meet in a neutral location for three months and none but the representatives should administer, set the agenda for or intervene in the proceedings or resolutions.
l Those who serve in the National Congress, as well as the international community, should show their support for the Syrian people by abiding by its outcomes, by pledging to provide all required assistance for rebuilding Syria, and by doing whatever is in their power to help the Syrian people heal their wounds and resume their participation with the global community.
lThe Security Council should invoke Chapter 7 of the UN Charter to impose the National Congress’s implementations through agreed-upon means of compliance and to penalise the parties that do not abide by the results.
“The ongoing slaughter in Syria, the destruction of a once great civilisation, and the spilling of desperate refugees into neighbouring nations are a stain of disgrace on the conscience of all humanity. Allowing this state of affairs to continue deeply threatens the Middle East region and the wider global environment.
“We therefore implore the UN and its envoy, Stefan di Mistura, to dedicate their efforts to the realisation of a second Syrian National Congress. It is the only way to save Syria,” they said.
“We must not allow Daesh, the Nusra Front and other terrorist organisations to hold the future of Syria hostage,” they said. - Arab News
Turki al-Faisal; Mohamed al-Sabah; Abdelelah Alkhatib and Amr Moussa
