Russia’s acknowledgment of the armed opposition is one of the requirements of profiting politically from the victory in Aleppo. This means that transforming the military victory into a political settlement requires recognizing the enemy before sitting with him and agreeing to a solution to the conflict.
Is it really possible for Russia, Turkey and Iran to achieve a lasting solution which enables Syrians to choose their political system in a secular and democratic state, as stated by the three countries following meetings in Moscow?
Unannounced negotiations are being held between American and Russian representatives to draft constitutional and political principles for a solution built on the principle of “political quotas” close to “the moderate Lebanese model”
The unpredictability of Russia’s Syria policy troubles both its allies and enemies who worry the Kremlin may be selling empty promises ahead of upcoming peace talks in Geneva
The gamble made by Damascus and its allies is that the US will be in a hurry to make any achievement in the Syrian crisis, and will accept the idea of Assad’s nomination in the coming elections due to domestic reasons related to their own upcoming election season
Monitor says US forces overseeing the widening of airport runway as helicopters begin operations from the facility
Does sharing Syria in its current state mean dividing it among its occupying powers? The facts say that the forces which control Syria today will not be able to coexist within this division, Walid Bunni argues
President Bashar al-Assad has accused the US of sponsoring terrorist groups in Syria by labeling them ‘moderate opposition’. In an interview with the Russian TV channels, Russia 24 and NTV, the Syrian president said the United States tried to promote the idea of so-called moderate opposition in Syria.
Following is the full text of the interview:
The Syrian Observer republishes Qantara’s 2015 profile on the Syrian critical philosopher and political activist on the sad occasion of his passing
Foreign ministry says Washington’s decision to lift an embargo on arms exports to terrorist groups in Syria is aimed at prolonging the crisis
What does Donald Trump have to do with Iran and Russia’s insistence that rebel fighters be evacuated to Idleb exclusively, even though areas of the Damascus countryside under opposition control are much closer? Walid Bunni explains
Foreign minister says agreement will call for all gunmen to leave the city, adding any armed group that refuses to leave will be treated as ‘terrorists’
Does the fall of the ISIS-held town of Dabiq to Western-backed forces signal the end of the radical Islamist group, and could its legacy live on following its possible demise?
Late Cuban president will remain a model for those seeking independence and liberation from yoke of colonialism, says Assad
Trump symbolically and practically has given a green light to finish off Aleppo city, and he has become, along with Obama, partners with Putin in the most horrific stage the city has endured in its long history, writes Abdel Wahab Bedarkhan
The push by Assad and his allies to achieve decisive victories before the end of Obama’s term, and the beginning of an unpredictable Trump presidency, could explain the brutality which they are employing against Aleppo, the Damascus countryside, and the eastern and western Ghoutas
Damascus has rejected a proposal from Moscow to host a broad conference for the Syrian opposition with “Russia’s guarantees” aiming to form an expanded opposition coalition ahead of possible peace negotiations in Geneva
If Trump’s framework – partnerships and not hostility – finds a path to be implemented, then his policy in the Syrian issue will be better than that of his predecessor Obama, who gave up his role and delivered the issue to Russia, writes Fayez Sara
Where will the next domino fall? Perhaps France? Will the French left give up Hollande to stave off political extinction in the presidential elections next year?
The advent of Trump to the presidency is likely to draw the curtain on this era, which requires relying more than before on subjective factors, and inventing means of resistance which are less costly to the revolution, and less dependent on external support
