What is “New” in the “Small Group” Statement about Syria?

While the language of the statement is similar to that of the previous statements to a large extent, what can be noted as “new” within the latest statement – in our opinion – are the following points:

First: We have not heard anything about or from the Small Group for many months, to the point that one almost forgot its existence. Now, days before the next Astana meeting, the Small Group reappears in what seems to be merely a confirmation by the Group that it is “still alive”.

Second: It seems striking that the Small Group deals with UNSCR 2254 as “constitution + elections” and only that. It is even more striking requiring that “internally displaced persons, refugees, and the diaspora must be able to participate”. At its core, this does not mean defending the rights of all Syrians to participate in free and fair elections. Rather, it means precisely that the elections process should take place under conditions in which “internally displaced persons, refugees and the diaspora” remain displaced persons, refugees and diaspora. That is, elections (from the point of view of the Small Group) should take place before any return of refugees, and of course before the reconstruction, as well as before the establishment of the transitional governing body, and even before the new constitution. Most importantly, these elections should take place in a country that is internally divided, and divided between the inside and outside.

Third: Elections of the aforementioned type, which are a matter of urgency for the extremists on both sides, and would produce two or more parliaments, two or more presidents, and two or more states within one state. Here, it is worth remembering that within the opposition there are some who now publicly talk about the need for a constitutional structure in the “liberated areas” and a political parties law, and so on.

Fourth: What is also striking in the statement is the statement: “We express our deep concern regarding the terrorist threat in the South of Syria and commit to supporting humanitarian efforts there”. This requires explanation; about which terrorist threat is the Small Group talking? What is certain is that the Small Group is looking for a role for itself in southern Syria after losing a large portion of its cards there since 2018. However, we should not dismiss the possibilities the fears of the US and the Zionist entity in particular, about the failure of successive attempts to ignite thing in the south, in which actively contribute extremists from the various Syrian sides. The failure to ignite the south means that the implementation of UNSCR 2254 will include the implementation of UN resolutions 242 and 338.