Moscow Consultative Meeting

Though concluded with no final results, the recently held Moscow Consultative Meeting between the Syrian government delegation and representatives of the opposition forces has broken the ice between the two sides and produced positive signs indicating the participants’ readiness to meet again in Moscow for further consultations that may witness wider participation by opposition blocs.

The meeting was an opportunity for both sides to exchange views on peaceful settlement that helps Syria get out of the ongoing crisis, which regional and international parties with the help of their terrorist tools have sought to prolong by attempting to abort every initiative aiming to launch inter-Syrian dialogue. 

Moscow meeting witnessed the agreement of the Syrian government delegation and the majority of the participating opposition forces on “Moscow Principles”; which included among other things maintaining the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian State, fighting terrorism, preserving the Syrian Arab Army as a symbol of national unity and attaining a peaceful political solution to the crisis in Syria away from foreign interference. Agreement on such principles, which should be sacred to the citizens of any country in the world, is the introduction to make any Moscow future meeting a success.

From the very beginning, Syria proposed an integrated political program initiated by President Bashar Al-Assad in his landmark speech On January 6th 2013 to solve the crisis. The Syrian government also stressed readiness to be engaged in unconditional national dialogue with the opposition forces existing inside Syria and abroad on the basis of fighting terrorism, halting violence and preserving the sovereignty and national unity of Syria. However, some foreign-backed opposition forces, particularly those abroad, continued to bet on the downfall of Syria and to adopt the Israeli, American and Gulf sinister schemes.

 Most of the meetings held previously by the so-called “opposition” in different countries in cooperation with the group calling itself “Friends of Syria” have proved the opposition forces’ link to the agendas of certain countries that have been feeding terrorism in Syria and employing terrorists and extremists to fragment the state, kill the Syrians and destroy their decades-old achievements. So, Moscow consultations have tested the seriousness of the divided opposition forces about finding a solution that embodies the Syrians’ aspirations.

Moving to dialogue to solve urgent national issues needs great efforts by concerned parties to be flexible as regards reaching agreement on some approaches for unanimously acceptable political solution.

Constructive inter-Syrian dialogue based on certain priorities like fighting terrorism is seen by all as the only way leading to a political solution that embodies the Syrians’ aspirations in maintaining their homeland’s unity and independent decision. All who reject such dialogue are but agents implementing the dictates of the parties which seek undermining the process of attaining political solution.

Thus, the success of any future Moscow consultative meeting or possible dialogue in Damascus, depends on the opposition forces’ will to give up their blind subordination to the colonialist countries and reactionary regimes which have participated in shedding the Syrian blood and are still working to abort all settlement initiatives through continuous support for the terrorists and through attempts to impose certain solutions that come in line with their schemes to divide and dominate the entire region.

Since Geneva I Conference, the United States has sought prolonging the crisis in Syria and hindered political settlement through adopting a double standard policy represented in claiming that it seeks a political solution in the country while at the same time keeps funding and training the terrorists whom it calls “moderate opposition”.

 A change in this contradicting US policy seems like a dream at present, as the U.S. proves every day that it isn’t interested in eliminating the terrorist extremist organizations in the region, because these organizations help the U.S. achieve its domination schemes without even losing a single soldier of its forces. A tangible evidence of this is provided in a recent report revealing that the first batch of US forces tasked with training fighters of the so-called “moderate Syrian opposition” has arrived in the region as part of a US plan to send a group of 1000 soldiers to the region for training purpose.

 Some observers believe that the new American step aims to foil Moscow consultative meeting which couldn’t be held without the steadfastness of the Syrian people and the victories achieved by the Syrian Arab Army in its battle against the terrorist groups.

Hamda Mustafa