Syrian Opposition Meeting in Geneva: The means to Negotiate with The Regime

Nidal Hamade - Paris

The international meeting for the Syrian opposition in Geneva wrapped up, after a wide spectrum of figures from the Syrian opposition inside and outside Syria, namely the so-called National Coordination Committee and Syria State Building Movement participated, in line with a panel of Syrian oppositionists, independent personalities, and Arab and foreign guests "concerned with the Syrian crisis."

The conference winded up on a closing statement, better known as the Geneva Declaration II, based upon the recommendations of Geneva I on possible solutions to the crisis sweeping Syria. Most notable about the declaration was a clause calling for paving the way for a political process leading to direct negotiations with the Syrian government in the Starling Geneva Hotel. The conference made the headlines, unlike Paris meeting which drew little appetite on the international level. Personalities from the West and the Mideast interested in the Syrian dossier flocked to the hotel without being even invited. They actually benefitted from a Geneva canton law hereby allowing diplomatic missions to attend political meetings albeit uninvited.
The huge turnout was significant evidence on the world's major concern about Geneva conference. Nonetheless, caution prevailed during the first and second day, whereas statements and speeches did not break new grounds, but remained the same as the rhetoric which accompanied the crisis ever since its eruption. However, things began to change the next afternoon, when the first draft fell short of including a call for direct negotiations with the Syrian regime.

In that very afternoon, discussions were decisive in terms of the draft's modification. Many Syrians also made interventions through Skype-like Hassan Aabdel Azim, Ahmad Asrawi, Akram Karami, Badr Mansour, Fateh Jamous, and Amal Nasr-- prioritizing the necessity to cease violence. From inside the hall, Head of the State Building Movement Louay Hussein spoke out, and so did Nasser Ghazali, Head of Damascus Institute's Studies Center, who had lost 15 relatives during the battles. Moreover, tens of Syrians attending the meeting focused on one option, that is to wide open the doors for parleys between the opposition and the regime. At the same time, the clear failure of Paris conference just beefed up calls for negotiations, especially as the poles of the Syrian Coalition and National Council (SNC) continued to ask for money.

In fact, George Sabra has several times asked for USD 500 million, while the Coalition has asked for USD 1.5. Furthermore, the absence of SNC's Moaz al-Kahtib was just another proof of the ailing and lamentable situation of both the National Coalition and SNC. Besides, the statements of French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius, during Paris meeting are as worth mentioning. Fabius pointed out France's reneging on arming the Syrian opposition and made it clear the Syrian crisis was no more his government's priority. This showed France's blatant involvement in Mali, which drove it to alter its stances in terms of the military intervention in Syria.
The political atmosphere was adequate to thaw the ice and announce approval of negotiations. The major contribution was that made by law activist Nasser al-Ghazali, who called during the conference for the formation of three committees, whereas one of them should be tasked with putting forth a political process through negotiations between the opposition and the regime. His intervention was yet unnoticed. However, we have learned that during that very evening, his call was seriously discussed. On Tuesday afternoon, the final draft of Geneva Declaration was Okayed!

Source: al-Ahed news, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org