Washington Kurdish Institute
October 1, 2019
In line with the United Nations Security Council resolution 2254, on Monday 23 September 2019, Secretary General Guterres announced an agreement was found in order to write the post-war Syrian Constitution.Just one day before the opening of the 74thGeneral Assembly,Guterres announced it will be “a credible, balanced and inclusive constitutional committee”led by Syrian governmental officials and facilitated by the United Nations in Geneva. Members from Bashar Al-Assad’s government will be the leading coalition, though representatives from opposition groups, as Nasser Hariri,will be present as well, in order to maintain a balanced climate.Resolution 2254, which was adopted in 2015, had underlined how the only way to end the now eight-year long conflict was by beginning a peace process led by the Syrian Arab Republic,that would meet the aspirations of the entire Syrian population, including minorities. Finally, an agreement was reached, and the constitutional committee will begin its talks soon. Though, timings have not been set yet. In a press release published by the United Nations official news outlets, it was announced that Turkey, Russia, and Iran will also participate in these rounds. However, which members officially adhered has not as of today been announced. The United States, for example, declared its complete support and appreciation towards the efforts achieved. Though the concluding part of its statement underlined how the Assad regime must accept the will of the entire population, minorities included, and quit attacking the innocent population, as the humanitarian crisis must come to an immediate end. European governments, as for example Italy, also demonstrated their support though have not announced their participation in the committee yet.The Syrian government initially did not express their dissent nor approval towards the creation of the constitutional committee, as their goal is to protect Syria’s sovereignty. However, as announced by Guterres, after numerous talks in Damascus and Moscow, UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pederson, was able to find a compromise with Syrian officials. Reaching this agreement is a great step forward for the Syrian crisis. Just recently the UN Human Rights Council had declared the situation in Syria a disgrace, and that all fighting parties are combating with no regards to human life. Particularly, the northern city of Idlib has recently faced attacks from rebel groups, terrorists, and pro-government military forces, thousands of people were forced to flee, and many others were killed during these attacks which started just earlier this year. Nonetheless, as the Human Rights Council announced through its Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic(established in 2011), the agreement reached in 2018 between Turkey and Russia in order to demilitarize the area of Idlib has not helped the situation, and failed. Terrorist organizations, as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham(HTS), continue to violently attack civilians and designated government areas, consequently self-defense attacks by Syrian foreign allies are routine.The UN Human Rights Council has also denounced the poor situation of the resettlement camps in Syria for internally displaced people, underlining the extreme conditions children and women are forced to live in, especially in the Al-Hawl Camp –which borders with Iraq. Consequently, having finally found an agreement which may help meet the interests of the entire Syrian population, might not only help end the violent conflict, but also help the reconstruction of the country and the return of many people back to their hometowns.
Not withstanding the enthusiasm and the United Nations’ will to defend minorities, the Kurdish autonomous administration,which effectively controls north and east Syria, has been excluded from the rounds.Even if opposition groups are part of the rounds, northeastern Kurds (and a representation from the Christians in Syria), announced their exclusion as‘unjust’ and anti-democratic. Abdul Karim Omar, chair of the Kurdish administration’s foreign affairs office, discussed about Kurdish exclusion stating that he is not completely concerned about the constitutional committee as he believes that the exclusion of all political parties(as the Kurdish one), marks the absence of democracy within the constitution per se. Thus, the chair also announced, in an interview to a Kurdish news agency, that “to ensure that all Syrians are given a voice in their future, we call for the inclusion of the Autonomous Administration in this constitutional committee and all discussions of solutions to the crises plaguing the country.”This stated, representatives from all minorities should be able to participate in the rounds of the constitutional committee and not only opposition groups, as the will of all cannot be represented by third parties. The hope this constitutional committee will work is high, as the last one had drastically failed to find a solution. As the war and humanitarian crisis in Syria escalates, as well as the tensions regarding the safe zone with Turkey, this constitution could save and prevent many violent situations. With details that still need to be announced, one thing may be taken for granted just by listening Secretary General Guterres’s word: the United Nations solemnly wishes to defend the rights of all, minorities included. Just as the situation intensifies, this could be a great step forward for the Kurdish community present in Syria, from the moment in which they are able to participate in the rounds. However, political interests often have prevailed in similar situations in the past. Consequently, the important detail that this constitutional committee will be facilitated by the United Nations in Geneva, could bring more hope in the eyes of those living through an eight year-long violent and tremendous conflicts.
Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and positions expressed by authors and contributors do not necessary reflect those of the WKI.