“No to Violence, Yes to Democracy”

Yesterday’s concluded Conference for the Syrian opposition in Tehran is indeed a further step on the way of ending the crisis in Syria, which does need real friends seeking its welfare, security and stability. It can be called as the Friends of Syria conference, given its agenda, participation level, and outcomes.

Among the Conference shared objectives by the majority are: rejection of  military intervention in Syria and of any foreign imposed solution, the necessity of commitment by the neighbors to international law and, thus, preventing the illegal shipment of extremists and al-Qaeda affiliated armed men, and the smuggling of arms to Syria. The conference pointed out that support should be provided to the Syrian people and that Syria’s borders should be controlled. Tehran Conference, further,  reiterated commitment to Syria’s independence, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity, asserting the need for continued dialogue, end to violence, continued reforms, creating a 16-member committee as to follow-up the national dialogue related issues.

The dignitaries sent by the Syrian government to Tehran  point to the importance attached by the government  to dialogue; among the participants were two high profile ministers:  the Deputy Primer for Economic Affairs and the Minister of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection, Qadri Jamil, and Minister of National Reconciliation, Ali Haidar. Minister Jamil’s statements in Tehran highlight more the success of the conference that it represents the difference between the genuine national opposition and reform movement and the non-national opposition, which rejects dialogue and calls for foreign intervention, meddling and even destruction of Syria.

All of the participants in Tehran Conference reiterated readiness to dialogue with whatever opposition, which rejects foreign intervention and calls for a peaceful end to the crisis in Syria. Another point behind the success of the conference is the host, Iran, the real friend of Syria; and as MP Khalid Al-Abboud stated the Islamic republic of Iran is indeed neutral with no bias to any side, but to the Syrians and Syria as a whole against a fragmentation of the country.

Such a conference is a further step towards solving the crisis imposed on Syria by greedy foreign powers and their mass media means. The representation in the conference is up to the expectations of the majority: religious leaders, party leaders, political figures, tribal chiefs, and representatives of Syrian opposition groups, as well as representatives from Turkey, Egypt, Iraq, and a number of other countries. That is why, such a conference was praised and welcomed by the countries which support the Syrians’ right to live in peace and security. Minister Sergei Lavrov of Russia hailed Iran’s hosting of the conference as part of the ongoing national dialogue. The Iranian Foreign Minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, welcomed the conference as a new initiative to meet the Syrian people’s legitimate demands.

Thus, Syria, the cradle of civilization, is in need for such honest efforts on the way of reforms, reconstruction, building and prosperity. The creating of puppets’ councils with the backing of every conspirator is without doubt to fail. Real and true Syrians are invited to throw  their hats in the ring and work with national opposition for the stronger Syria.

Dr. Mohammad Abdo Al-Ibrahim