We stand with Syria, call for Res. 2254 implementation: Aqaba Meeting

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies + Al Mayadeen
14 Dec 2024 16:37
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The Arab Ministerial Liaison Committee on Syria endorses "a comprehensive and peaceful Syrian political transition involving all Syrian political and social forces."

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Qatar's FM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, Turkiye's FM Hakan Fidan, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen, UAE FM Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan, and others attend the meeting of the Arab Contact Group on Syria in Jordan's southern Red Sea coastal city of Aqaba, on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 (AP)

The Arab Ministerial Liaison Committee on Syria reaffirmed its commitment to standing with the Syrian people, respecting their will and choices, and supporting the political transition process in Syria.

In the final statement of the committee's meeting, held in al-Aqaba and attended by representatives from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, and the foreign ministers of the UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar, the gathered nations endorsed "a comprehensive and peaceful Syrian political transition involving all Syrian political and social forces."

The statement called for the establishment of "a transitional governing body with Syrian consensus" to begin implementing "the steps outlined in Resolution 2254, transitioning from the interim phase to a new political system."

It emphasized the need for "free and fair elections supervised by the United Nations, based on a new constitution approved by the Syrian people, within specified timeframes and mechanisms as per the resolution."

The statement also supported the role of the UN Special Envoy to Syria, urging the UN Secretary-General to "provide all necessary resources" to initiate "the establishment of a UN mission to assist and oversee Syria’s transitional process."

The participants stressed in their statement that "this critical phase requires comprehensive national dialogue and the solidarity of all segments of the Syrian people, across its diverse components, political forces, and social fabric."

They emphasized the need for "an immediate cessation of all military operations" and "respect for the rights of the Syrian people, without discrimination based on ethnicity, sect, or religion, while preserving state institutions and enhancing their ability to serve the Syrian population."

The al-Aqaba statement highlighted the importance of "protecting Syria from sliding into chaos and urgently enabling a police force to protect citizens, their properties, and state resources, while committing to bolstering counter-terrorism efforts and cooperating in combating terrorism, which poses a threat to Syria, regional security, and global stability."

The statement expressed "unwavering solidarity with the brotherly Syrian Arab Republic in protecting its unity, territorial integrity, sovereignty, security, and stability" and called for "creating the security, living, and political conditions necessary for the voluntary return of Syrian refugees to their homeland, providing all necessary support to facilitate this."

Regarding Israeli aggression on Syria, the statement condemned "Israel's incursions into the demilitarized zone with Syria and adjacent areas in Mount Hermon, as well as in the provinces of al-Quneitra and Damascus countryside." It also denounced "Israeli airstrikes on other areas and facilities in Syria."

In conclusion, the statement called for "the reconstruction of Syria as a state free of terrorism and extremism, without violations of its sovereignty or assaults on its territorial integrity by any party."

It emphasized that "engagement with the new reality in Syria will depend on its alignment with the principles and foundations outlined in this statement."