ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The foreign ministers of eight Arab countries and the head of the Arab League on Saturday expressed their support for a peaceful political transition in Syria, a week after the Baathist regime led by Bashar al-Assad was toppled.
The foreign ministers of Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, and Bahrain met in Jordan’s Aqaba to discuss the latest developments in Syria.
They agreed on “Standing in solidarity with the brotherly Syrian people, providing all possible support and assistance during this critical phase, and respecting their will and choices,” according to a joint statement released following the meeting.
They also indicated their support for a “comprehensive Syrian-led political transition that includes all Syrian political and social forces, including women, youth, and civil society, ensuring fairness and representation. This transition should be under the auspices of the United Nations and the Arab League, in accordance with the principles, objectives, and mechanisms of UN Security Council Resolution 2254.”
The Security Council resolution of 2015 called for a political settlement to the crisis in Syria and a permanent ceasefire to the civil war.
The foreign ministers said they encouraged the formation of “an inclusive transitional governing body based on Syrian consensus and initiating steps outlined in the resolution to transition to a new political system that fulfills the aspirations of all Syrians through free and fair elections supervised by the UN.”
The 13-year uprising against Assad came to a lightning quick end when a coalition of rebels led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) launched a blistering offensive against the Syrian army, seizing the northern cities of Aleppo, Hama, and Homs. Their victory culminated with capturing the capital Damascus as Assad fled the country, ending over five decades of Baathist rule in less than two weeks.
Turkish-backed militias simultaneously launched an offensive against Kurdish forces in the northeast.
The foreign ministers called for “the immediate cessation of all military operations” in Syria and noted the need to respect the rights of all Syrians “without discrimination based on ethnicity, sect, or religion, ensuring justice and equality for all citizens.”
The collapse of the regime marked a new start in Syria’s history. The HTS-led groups elected a transitional government led by caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir who has promised a future Syrian state that guarantees the rights of all its citizens.
Syrian rebels have called on their compatriots outside of the country to return to their homeland and several European nations suspended processing of Syrian refugee claims.
The foreign ministers agreed on the need for “creating security, living, and political conditions conducive to the voluntary return of Syrian refugees to their homeland and providing all necessary assistance in cooperation with relevant UN organizations.”
They also condemned Israel’s incursion into Syrian territory. Following the collapse of the regime, the Israeli army occupied the buffer zone between Syria and the Golan heights. Israel also carried out airstrikes on Syrian army military stores and equipment across the country.
The ministers demanded “the withdrawal of Zionist forces, denouncing airstrikes on Syrian regions and facilities, affirming the Arab Syrian identity of the Golan Heights, and calling on the UN Security Council to act against these violations.”
