Another Step Towards the Solution

Although some of the items were a repetition of previous statements, especially the items related to the unity of Syria, guaranteeing its sovereignty, and joint work to implement resolution 2254, the last statement carried within it a qualitative addition through the common position on two basic issues: the occupied Syrian Golan and sanctions.

Before diving into the meanings these two points carry, it should be noted that Wednesday’s summit is the sixth trilateral summit at the presidency level of Russia, Iran, and Turkey in two and a half years, starting with the first trilateral summit on 24 November 2017. The very high volume of activity of this tripartite, not to mention the Astana format meetings themselves and the bilateral and trilateral foreign ministers’ meetings, is an additional indication of what we have repeatedly said in that the Astana track is essentially a regional system with an international outlook, which has been founded on the Syrian issue but its dimensions are larger and wider, and all Western attempts to undermine and undo the Astana group, and create discord among its parties have been unsuccessful.

Going back to the statement, talking about a common response to Western unilateral sanctions opens the door to activating Syria’s economic affiliation with the new world in the economic and financial sense, and in all its dimensions and underlying potentials, away from the dollar-based plundering system. However, turning this trend into a fait accompli to save the Syrian people from the catastrophe that continues to deepen, necessarily requires creating the appropriate structure in Syria itself for actual engagement in the new world. This, in turn, requires a complete separation from the dollar system and an end to the corruption, plundering, and commission-based systems, all of which are connected to the West, in one form or another. All of this brings us back to the main point that must be investigated to prevent Syria’s collapse and to preserve its unity and sovereignty, that is, towards the full implementation of Resolution 2254, which was reaffirmed by the Russian Foreign Minister last Friday during his meeting with a Libyan delegation in Moscow.

The point regarding the occupied Syrian Golan is also of great importance. The international resolutions that confirm that the Golan is Syrian and demand the withdrawal of the Zionist enemy from it are still pending without implementation. If the previous international balance was able to prevent their implementation, then the new balance allows it. The powers and states that have an interest in the stability of Syria and the region should provide the Syrian people with the necessary support in its various forms to compel the Zionists to withdraw from the Golan, as part of the comprehensive political solution process.

The achievements that the Astana track has achieved so far are undeniable, but the needs’ level has drastically increased in light of the worsening starvation and destitution, and in light of the work that the US is doing and that aims to reignite things in Syria again, as well as in light of the inability of the existing structure to do anything for Syria and the Syrian people except deepen the catastrophe. Therefore, the practical steps towards the full implementation of Resolution 2254 and towards the Syrian people having the right to self-determination, are what Syrians must see, and before it is too late!