The Group of Seven rejects normalization with Damascus and opts for a political solution as a necessary requirement

Qamishli

Since the involvement of many Arab countries, and before that Turkey, in the path of normalizing relations with the Central government in Damascus, especially after the devastating earthquake that beset Turkey and Syria last February, the Western position is clear on this path, namely that “there will be no restoration of relations with Damascus or acceptance of any country’s normalization of bilateral relations with it, before engaging in real political negotiations that lead, conducive to finding a political solution to the crisis.”

The latest positions in this regard were issued by the leaders of the G7 countries meeting in the Japanese City of Hiroshima by affirming their rejection of any restoration of relations with Damascus or the rehabilitation of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, before entering into a political process that leads to a solution that satisfies all Syrians, under the supervision of the United Nations and in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

The leaders of the Group of Seven said in a joint statement at the end of the meeting: “The international community should consider normalization and reconstruction assistance in Syria only when real and lasting progress is made towards a political solution, calling for full and unimpeded “humanitarian access” to all Syrians in need, especially through a cross-border aid provided by the United Nations.

Commitment to defeat ISIS and find solutions for its detained members

The statement stressed the group’s commitment to the permanent defeat of the terrorist organization ISIS and to make efforts towards finding permanent solutions for the organization’s members, still detained in the prisons of Northern and Eastern Syria by expressing the support of the member states for the work of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the commitment to hold accountable those, responsible for the use of chemical weapons and violations of international law as well as international humanitarian and human rights law.

Several aspects on Syria

Although the United States and many European countries have more than once renewed their rejection of any normalization with the Damascus government before entering into negotiations leading to a political solution, the G7 statement included reference to basic and separate points related to the Syrian crisis, including chemical weapons and the defeat of ISIS. However, those aspects not included in any Western statements regarding Syria during the recent period, signify that this crisis is clearly present on the agenda of the two meetings as well as that the West and its allies are serious about rejecting any restoration of relations with Damascus or the lifting of sanctions on it before the required conditions are met.

Linking normalization and reconstruction to a political solution

Dr. Samira Moubayed, an academic researcher and member of the Syrian Constitutional Committee says in this context: “In the recent statement of the G7 leaders, a brief reference was made to the Syrian issue. It began with an emphasis on the political track within the frameworks of the United Nations and Security Council resolutions. This came in a general, non-detailed manner, as we noticed the reference to the necessity of the normalization and reconstruction processes are linked to the political solution, while the statement focused more on combating the use of chemical weapons and ISIS, which can be focused on from the perspective of supporting the Syrian movement as Bashar al-Assad’s regime faces direct accusations of violating international law, in particular regarding the use of chemical weapons.

Moreover, Dr. Samira Moubayed further added in statements to the Target Platform that “This system is facing accusations of complicity with terrorist organizations and armed militias that disturb security and stability in the region, and any normalization with them is tantamount to participating in these violations.“

Obstacles stand in the way of normalization between Damascus and Ankara

This comes in light of media reports about many obstacles and impairments impeding the path of normalization between Turkey and the Damascus government, which emerged clearly during the statements of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a few days ago, in which he renewed his country’s refusal to withdraw from the occupied Syrian territories and even threatened to launch new military attacks on areas in Northern and Eastern Syria. This in fact, contradicts with what the Damascus government put forward regarding the necessity of setting the withdrawal up as a precondition for completing the path of normalization with Ankara, before Syrian President Bashar al-Assad launched an attack during the Jeddah Summit on the “Ottoman occupation infused with brotherly animosity.” This matter further reveled the deep differences between the two sides regarding many issues despite the security and political meetings in the Russian capital, Moscow.

The statement of the Group of Seven and before it the “Anti-Normalization Law” which was approved by the Foreign Relations Committee in the US House of Representatives, regarding the restoration of relations with the Damascus government, constitutes a source of great pressure on Turkey and the Arab countries that have normalized relations with Damascus, in terms of the feasibility of this rapprochement and facing the consequences of that, in terms of the possibility of imposing Western sanctions on these countries. This came however, despite Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan’s speech during the recent Arab summit in Jeddah as a response to a question about how to deal with the American and European rejection of relations with Damascus and an Arab tendency to “discuss” Western partners regarding relations with Syria and before what the Turkish Foreign Minister said, namely that this issue is a matter for Turkey and Washington has nothing to do with it.

According to Dr. Moubayed, “The main pillars of the G7 are economic understandings. Therefore, we find that the statements issued by these meetings lean towards the general economic sphere more than the independent policies of the participating countries with regard to specific issues, especially towards the Syrian issue and its details.”

Relying on an Arab role to solve the Syrian crisis

And with the Arab talk about a tendency to end the Syrian crisis and not accepting things to remain as they are after more than twelve years of war and conflict as well as the emphasis on an Arab “leadership” role in this solution, the question remains, about the extent to which a breakthrough and progress can be achieved in this issue, in addition to the crisis, and the extent of reliance on the Arab role in achieving approaches with Western countries in the way of lifting sanctions and starting reconstruction as well as the possibility of the Damascus government accepting the implementation of conditions related to the release of detainees and revealing the fate of the disappeared and forcibly disappeared and lastly, the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2254, which means accepting the political transition.