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Yemen Online
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Yemen Online
Gulf States, Lebanon, Egypt, and Turkey Reject All Foreign Interference in Syria
The foreign ministers of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, along with Lebanon, Egypt, and Turkey, issued a joint statement rejecting all forms of foreign interference in Syria's internal affairs. The declaration followed a ministerial meeting held in Doha aimed at addressing the escalating crisis in Syria and reaffirming regional support for a Syrian-led political solution. The statement emphasized the importance of preserving Syria's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, and called for an immediate halt to military operations that threaten civilian lives and prolong the conflict. The ministers reiterated their commitment to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254 as the foundation for a comprehensive peace process. The joint communiqué also warned that continued external meddling risks plunging Syria into further chaos and undermines efforts to restore stability and facilitate the voluntary return of refugees and displaced persons. The signatories urged all parties to support a political resolution that protects civilians and strengthens Syria's institutions. This coordinated position reflects growing regional consensus on the need to shield Syria from proxy conflicts and foreign agendas, while promoting dialogue and humanitarian relief.
Daily Tribune
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
From Gaza to Iraq: UN Outlines Vision for Peace and Stability in the Arab World
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the League of Arab States with a powerful call for peace, unity, and a renewed commitment to multilateral cooperation amid a wave of regional crises. Speaking from Baghdad, Guterres emphasized the need to deepen the UN's strategic partnership with the Arab League in facing complex challenges across the Middle East and North Africa. The Secretary-General began with a firm condemnation of both the October 7 attacks by Hamas and the ongoing collective punishment of Palestinians in Gaza. He urged immediate global action: 'We need a permanent ceasefire now, the unconditional release of all hostages now, and the free flow of humanitarian aid, now.' He expressed deep concern over Israel's plans to expand ground operations and warned that the UN would not engage in any aid operations that violate international law or humanitarian principles. Guterres also reiterated strong support for UNRWA, calling for urgent financial backing to sustain its operations. Highlighting the dire situation in the occupied West Bank, Guterres declared that 'annexation is illegal, settlements are illegal,' and reiterated that only a two-state solution—with Israel and Palestine living side-by-side in peace, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states—can secure lasting peace. He praised the upcoming high-level conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia in June as a vital opportunity to keep that vision alive. Beyond Palestine, the Secretary-General addressed other flashpoints: Lebanon: He reaffirmed the importance of implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and welcomed Lebanon's pledge to assert state control over all weapons within its territory. Syria: He called for a Syrian-led political process based on Resolution 2254 to ensure a peaceful and democratic future. Yemen: Guterres welcomed Oman's recent mediation efforts between the U.S. and the Houthis and urged a halt to violence and a return to Yemeni-led negotiations. Sudan: He stressed the urgent need for coordinated multilateral engagement to stop violence, famine, and displacement, applauding the collaboration between the Arab League and African Union. Somalia: Guterres underlined the importance of inclusive dialogue and proposed predictable financing for the African Union's mission to support Somalia's security. Libya: He noted efforts to resolve internal confrontations, protect institutions, and prepare for national elections as part of the broader goal of stability. Turning to Iraq, Guterres praised the country's progress since regaining sovereignty in 2004 and emphasized continued UN support through to the end of the current mission's mandate in December 2025. 'We remain committed to helping Iraq achieve a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous future,' he said. Concluding his remarks, the Secretary-General struck a hopeful tone: 'Despite the enormous challenges, let us draw lessons and hope from Baghdad. Working in unity and solidarity, we can help resolve conflicts and build a future of peace and prosperity.' The speech underscored the UN's unwavering commitment to diplomatic engagement, peacebuilding, and strengthening collaboration with the League of Arab States in shaping a stable future for the region.
Al Binaa
16-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Binaa
U.S.-Russian Statement to the Security Council on Syria's Coastline Events: The Regime's First Loss / Whitcoff Juggles Between Gaza and Ukraine, Seeking Temporary Solutions to Prolong Final Settlements
The political editor wrote Days after the U.S. and Russia called for a UN Security Council session to discuss the events on Syria's coastline and the massacres committed against civilians – claiming the lives of thousands of unarmed women, children, youth, and elderly—the Council concluded its deliberations. It was one of the rare sessions where the usual U.S.-Russia tensions over Syria were absent. Meanwhile, European nations, which had been inclined to support the new regime, were left disillusioned by the events. Public outcry emerged in parliaments across France, Germany, and the Netherlands, condemning their governments' engagement with the new authorities. The Security Council's statement marked the first international setback for Damascus' new leadership after three months of diplomatic gains. The statement held the regime accountable for the massacres, calling for concrete steps to protect civilians and prosecute those responsible. It also reminded Syria of its obligations to combat UN-designated terrorist organisations while reaffirming Resolution 2254 as the recognised framework for a Syrian settlement. The statement underscored that the newly adopted constitutional declaration, passed by the regime just a day prior, was incompatible with Resolution 2254, both in terms of the transitional government's duration and the composition of the ruling authority. As global conflicts dominate the stage, particularly the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, U.S. Presidential Envoy Steve Whitcoff continues his shuttle diplomacy, conveying President Donald Trump's aspirations for breakthroughs that could end these wars. However, the negotiations he spearheads primarily aim for interim agreements. In Ukraine, this means a ceasefire – a notion Russia rejects unless tied to a comprehensive and permanent peace deal. Nonetheless, Moscow remains open to considering it as a pathway to such an agreement, given the progress in U.S.-Russia relations. In Gaza, Whitcoff's efforts center on extending the ceasefire through reciprocal measures. However, the resistance remains steadfast in upholding the January 17 agreement, having implemented its first phase while awaiting the occupying entity's commitment to move forward with negotiations for the second phase. Despite U.S. progress on both fronts, the complexity of final settlements continues to obstruct temporary ceasefire deals, as Washington wagers that prolonged truces could eventually reshape the conditions for negotiating permanent solutions. Meanwhile, in Lebanon, there is growing advocacy for negotiations—an approach endorsed by Tel Aviv and encouraged by Washington. This push has been accompanied by claims that the proposed negotiations exclude normalisation, a concept broadly rejected by the Lebanese people. Yet, diplomatic and legal sources warn of the dangers of bargaining over Lebanese rights safeguarded by UN Resolutions 1701 and 425. Resolution 1701 guarantees Lebanon's right to an immediate and unconditional Israeli withdrawal from all territories occupied since 2000, without negotiations or delays. It also upholds Resolution 425, which mandates resolving territorial disputes between the 2000 withdrawal's Blue Line and Lebanon's internationally recognised borders. These resolutions shield Lebanon from the risks of direct negotiations by delegating the UN Secretary-General to mediate discussions and propose resolutions. However, stepping into negotiations would mean relinquishing the legal leverage these resolutions provide , just as Lebanon did in 1983 when it engaged in talks over the May 17 Agreement, disregarding Resolution 425.
Al Binaa
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Binaa
The Syrian Constitutional Declaration and Resolution 2254
• With the issuance of the constitutional declaration for the transitional phase in Syria, the time may have come to understand why the new leadership in Damascus opposes adopting Resolution 2254 as the framework for transition. The stated justification has been that the resolution envisions a dialogue and settlement between the former regime and the opposition, and with the fall of the former regime, the resolution itself is rendered obsolete. However, this argument is easily countered by the fact that the opposition, of which the new leadership in Damascus was once a part, had always interpreted the resolution as linking the formation of the transitional governing body to the departure of the former president. So what, then, is the real reason for rejecting Resolution 2254? • The constitutional declaration provides ample answers to this question. Resolution 2254 envisioned a transition aligned with international standards, which rest on three fundamental pillars. The first is a transitional period capped at 18 months, as transitional governance lacks legitimacy derived from the people's will, which is the sole source of legitimate authority. The second pillar is a collective governing body, as stipulated in the resolution, rather than an individual leader. The logic behind such a structure, despite its internal contradictions, is precisely what justifies its adoption: in the absence of elections to confer legitimacy, how can an unelected individual be entrusted with an entire state, its resources, and its people? The collective body, with its built-in contradictions, acts as a safeguard against the dominance of any single political, ideological, religious, or ethnic faction. Its decision-making process, whether by consensus or through specific voting thresholds depending on the nature and significance of decisions, ensures that no group can impose its will on others. The third pillar is that the governing body, formed by a Security Council resolution, does not issue a constitutional declaration for the transitional period but rather drafts a general constitution for the country, which is then put to a referendum, with elections held under UN supervision. • Reading the constitutional declaration reveals how all three pillars have been undermined. The transition period has been extended to five years instead of 18 months – an exceptionally long duration for a transitional phase, raising concerns of authoritarian entrenchment. Granting an unelected authority such an extended mandate not only risks consolidating its grip on power but also provides ample time to manipulate future elections through control over state resources and institutions. This concern is further amplified by the fact that power is concentrated in a single individual belonging to a specific political faction, ideological current, sect, religion, and ethnicity, raising fears among other parties, sects, faiths, and national groups. This signals an intent to pave the way for the transitional president's continued rule beyond the transitional phase, potentially for multiple terms, thereby stripping the constitutional declaration of its transitional nature. Instead of serving as a stepping stone toward a democratic system based on popular will, it becomes a mechanism for controlling and co-opting that will, laying the groundwork for one-party rule and the dominance of its ideology, sect, religion, and ethnicity. • A genuine transitional constitutional declaration seeks to establish the shortest possible duration with the least possible powers. When broader powers are granted, the term is shortened accordingly; conversely, when the term is extended, powers are restricted. Yet this declaration provides both the broadest powers and the longest duration. Additionally, transitional declarations typically refrain from settling foundational issues that should be addressed in a permanent constitution, such as the state's relationship with religion, the nature of the political system, and national identity, ensuring that such matters are subject to public referendum rather than unilateral decisions by a president who appoints the constitutional drafting committee. In terms of powers, transitional declarations usually impose stringent limitations on the governing body, especially when it consists of a single individual. Such limitations operate in two ways: first, by restricting transitional authority to managing the state's day-to-day affairs, except in cases of urgent necessity requiring broader powers; second, by ensuring that decisions affecting fundamental freedoms require approval from other governing bodies, such as a constitutional court or legislative authority. • Because the constitutional declaration disregarded all these principles, it was only natural for the new leadership to push for eliminating any role for Resolution 2254. This allowed for replacing an 18-month transition with a five-year term, substituting collective governance with individual rule, and rushing to settle identity-related issues instead of postponing them for broader national deliberation. Such an approach lays the groundwork for prolonged instability, at a time when Syria is enduring one of its harshest periods of turmoil.
Shafaq News
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
UN: Syria's worsening crisis needs urgent peace efforts
Shafaq News/ On Monday, the United Nations expressed concern over the escalating violence in Syria, calling on all parties to protect civilians. The spokesman for the UN secretary-general, Stéphane Dujarric, said in a briefing that 'the Secretary-General [Antonio Guterres] is alarmed by the violent escalation in the coastal areas of Syria.' Guterres urged all parties to prioritize civilian protection and to refrain from 'inflammatory rhetoric and actions.' The SG acknowledged the announcement of an investigative committee and a civil peace preservation body by Syrian caretaker authorities, but underscored the 'importance and urgency of inclusive and transparent transitional justice and reconciliation processes for sustainable peace in Syria,' Dujarric stated. In light of 'widespread disinformation and heightened tensions,' Guterres highlighted the necessity of protecting independent media and human rights organizations, ensuring their ability to 'shed light in a transparent manner on the reports and allegations.' Meanwhile, United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, briefed the UN Security Council in a closed-door session on the latest developments and reiterated his commitment to supporting 'an inclusive Syrian-owned and -led political transition' in line with Security Council Resolution 2254, the UNSG spokesperson pointed out. The escalating violence in Syria is severely affecting civilians and infrastructure, with hundreds reportedly killed, including women, children, and medical staff. Thousands have been displaced, some fleeing to Lebanon. Power outages in Latakia have disrupted water access, while schools in Latakia and Tartous remain closed. The blocked Homs-Latakia highway has further restricted humanitarian aid, and insecurity has halted movements in coastal areas. Six referral hospitals, ambulances, and other medical facilities have been impacted, with urgent medical supplies needed, Dujarric revealed. During his briefing, the spokesman for the UNSG touched on several topics including the situation in Ukraine, South Sudan, and the occupied Palestinian territory.
