Vision for a New Syria: Sochi Agreements

By Steven Sahiounie | American Herald Tribune | February 5, 2018

The venue for The Syrian National Dialogue Congress was the Russian resort of Sochi; however, the foundation of the meeting was previously laid in Geneva. Turkey, Iran and Russia sponsored the event, with full support of the United Nations.

Attended by 1,393 delegates of the Syrian government and the opposition, the congress concluded late Tuesday after nine hours of negotiations covering issues from how to put an end to the seven-year war, to revising the constitution and post-war reconstruction.

The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres sent Staffan de Mistura, Special Envoy for Syria, to the Sochi meeting in hopes of making a significant breakthrough in a path towards peace in Syria and a political resolution to the armed conflict, which has cost hundreds of thousands of lives, destroyed large parts of the country, and has caused millions to flee Syria as refugees.

In the 8th round of the Geneva talks for Syria last November, Staffan de Mistura set forth 12 principles for a future Syria. All delegates at Sochi received that document. It was agreed upon, that a commission will be formed to draft a new constitution for Syria, and the 12 points will form the basis of the new constitution.

Staffan de Mistura, the UN special envoy for Syria, holds all the powers given by UN Security Council resolution 2254, which means that any decision should be agreed upon by the government and the opposition. At the end of the Sochi meeting, he was so encouraged that he said, “We never had the government side and the opposition actually getting involved in a discussion of a new constitution, because they were not in agreement. I think we have reached that point.”

UN-sponsored Vienna talks are scheduled for next Thursday and Friday. The talks are part of the Geneva process, though will be held in the Austrian capital. The Vienna talks are to be a progression of the Sochi meeting.

Syrians congregated from differing religions, political ideologies and social strata, but all in one room with the goal to find a peaceful way forward for a new Syria. There were at times heated and intense exchanges, but that was to be expected as part of a democratic process.

12 principles for a future Syria:

1. Sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and unity of the Syrian Arab Republic.
2. Syria’s national sovereign equality and rights regarding non-intervention.
3. Syrian people shall determine the future of their country by the ballot box.
4.  Syrian Arab Republic shall be a democratic and non-sectarian state.
5. Syria to be committed to national unity, social peace.
6. Continuity and improved performance of state and public institutions.
7. A strong national army that carries out its duties in accordance with the constitution.
8. Commitment to combat – terrorism, fanaticism, extremism and sectarianism.
9. Respect and protection of human rights and public freedoms.
10. Value placed on Syria’s society and national identity, and its history of diversity.
11. Fighting poverty and providing support for the elderly and other vulnerable groups.
12. Preservation and protection of national heritage and the natural environment.

The Constitutional Committee

The Sochi meeting concluded that a Constitutional Committee should be comprised of the Syrian government, opposition representatives, Syrian experts, civil society, independents, tribal leaders and women. A list of 150 candidates for the constitutional committee will be submitted, and Staffan de Mistura will have the final say. He said the talks in Vienna, part of the Geneva process, would build upon the progress achieved during the Sochi congress and set a schedule for drafting the new constitution.

The UN-backed negotiations in the Geneva process will focus on four elements: constitution; elections; governance; counterterrorism.  Many see a solution for Syria which would spring forth from the establishment of three committees: a presidential committee for the Congress, a special committee for constitutional reforms and a committee for elections and the registration of voters.

Some Syrian Opposition Boycotted Sochi

Though dozens of opposition figures attended the Sochi meeting, there was a segment which decided not to participate. On January 27, 2018 the US- Saudi-backed coalition known as the Higher Negotiations Committee announced they would not attend the Sochi congress. Yahya al-Aridi, their spokesman announced the boycott, and claimed that the Sochi Congress was an effort to sideline the UN and the importance of the Geneva process.  However, when it was revealed later that Staffan de Mistura was going to attend, and play a central role in the meeting, and ultimately was given full powers and authority to continue the Geneva process, the opposition members regretted their decision, which left them sidelined and isolated.  However, Staffan de Mistura has stated since, that those not attending Sochi may still be included in the future meetings, and potentially in the constitution committee.

America’s role in the Syrian peace process

America, Saudi Arabia, France, United Kingdom, and Jordan devised a plan which would drastically alter the Syrian government. This document was to be presented to UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura, as the “Friends of Syria” counter to the Sochi Congress. However, the document was leaked. It exposed the US and Arab allies plan to make the Syrian government a very weak institution, stripped of most powers. In contrast, those countries who devised the plan all have very strong central governments, some of them are in fact monarchies bordering on dictatorships, and one of them has no constitution or elections. It would seem America, Saudi Arabia, France, United Kingdom, and Jordan are not part of the Syrian peace process, and are left sidelined and isolated.