Editorial: The Syria we desire

Al-Ahram Weekly Editorial
Tuesday 14 Jan 2025

Since the sudden fall of the former regime in Syria on 8 December, Egypt’s stand has been clear.

 

The priority, Cairo has insisted, is serving the interests of the Syrian people and maintaining the unity and territorial integrity of Syria, a vital Arab state of strategic significance. This stand was reiterated by Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty during meetings he held early this week in Riyadh on the fringe of a conference hosted by the Saudi government on Syria’s future.

The significance of the Riyadh meeting was that it gathered nearly all stakeholders concerned with developments in Syria and how they might affect the stability of an already extremely volatile Middle East. The countries neighbouring Syria, namely Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan, key Arab players topped by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, as well as the United States and several key European nations were present in Riyadh to confirm their readiness to help Syria in the difficult task of building a stable future.

All participants recognised that the key responsibility to restore Syria’s stability falls on the shoulders of its new de-facto government and leader, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, leader of Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), better known by his nom de guerre as a member of IS and Al-Qaeda, Abu Mohamed Al-Jolani.

Nearly all ministers who took part in the meeting at the Saudi capital have already met with Al-Sharaa or his foreign minister in Damascus to deliver that message, noting that it was not enough to make nicely worded statements and pledges. More important, they stressed, are actions on the ground, and whether promises to respect the diversity of the Syrian people with all its minorities and ethnic groups will be translated into tangible measures.

Knowing the strong influence of the Turkish government on the new, de facto Syrian leadership, Foreign Minister Abdelatty discussed the latest developments in Syria with Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan. During the meeting, Abdelatty outlined Egypt’s stance on the Syrian crisis. On this level, Egypt was among the first Arab countries to strongly condemn Israel’s unjustified occupation of the so-called buffer zone between Syria and Israel that was agreed on between the two sides following the 1973 War, which Egypt and Syria jointly launched to liberate their occupied territories in Sinai and the Golan Heights.

Meanwhile, Abdelatty stressed the need to advance an inclusive, Syrian-controlled political process that encompasses the entirety of the Syrian people and aligns with UN Security Council Resolution 2254. Indeed, the situation on the ground has changed drastically since this resolution was adopted by the Security Council in 2017, but there can be no return to point zero now that much effort has already been exerted to arrive at a new constitution that would guarantee and protect the rights of all Syrians.

In addition, Abdelatty highlighted the necessity of intensifying regional and international efforts to combat terrorism, ensuring that no terrorist elements should find sanctuary on Syrian soil, and preventing Syria from becoming a source of instability in the region. He stressed the same key point in similar meetings held in Riyadh with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, UN Special Envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas.

Abdelatty called on regional and international parties to prevent Syria from becoming a hub for terrorist groups that would pose a threat and provocation to any country in the region. Although the foreign minister has not so far met directly with his newly appointed Syrian counterpart, Abdelatty openly expressed Egyptian worries in a phone call between the two sides.

It was definitely extremely worrying for Egypt to see one of the key terrorist figures involved in the assassination of late prosecutor general, Hisham Barakat, in 2014 posing while smiling in a photo with Al-Sharaa at the presidential capital in Damascus hardly a week after the downfall of Bashar Al-Assad. Two weeks later, the newly appointed Syrian defence minister announced the “promotion” of more than 50 foreign fighters, including an Egyptian and a Jordanian, to senior military ranks ahead of joining the newly formed Syrian army. This army is made up of more than two dozen militia fighters who have pledged loyalty to the regime led by Al-Sharaa.

And, to add salt to injury, despite Egypt’s goodwill gesture of sending more than 150 tonnes of much needed humanitarian and medical aid to Syria, Egyptians were stunned last week to see a convicted terrorist holding a news conference in Damascus calling for an armed revolt against the current government of Egypt. That is certainly a violation of any accepted standard to build good relations between the two countries.

As a matter of fact, Egypt was not alone in expressing its rejection of these measures. US and European media have reported that Western diplomats who visited Damascus have pressured the new rulers there to stop recruiting foreigners, mainly wanted terrorists, in their new army. Such recruitments are far from a friendly gesture or a move that would calm legitimate fears that Syria will turn into a haven for terrorist organisations that threaten the security and stability of key Arab nations, if not the entire world.

Egypt will definitely continue to show solidarity with the Syrian people and support for their legitimate aspirations. Yet all countries who want to help Syria need to see the new de facto government there giving priority to the interests of its own people, so that the country can resume its role in the region and the world at large.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 16 January, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

Short link: