Syria should forge Arab unity: Shared optimism
By
Duraid Al Baik
It is
clear by now that Syria has managed to get out of diplomatic isolation imposed
on the country and the ruling regime by the West following the assassination of
former Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri, in February 2005.
Slowly
but steadily, Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, managed to establish strong
relations with Iran, mend his fences with Turkey and promote the relations
between the two countries to the level of trade and political partners.
Most
recently, Bashar refreshed Syria's relations with India using the economic card
to gain the political support he badly needs. On the other hand, Syria has
already broken the ice with France with the participation of Bashar in Union
for the Mediterranean to be held in Paris next month.
The
three years of isolation imposed on Syria, proved that there will be no peace
or stability in the region without Syria.
The
motto, floated by Arab political analysts after Egypt and Israel signed a peace
deal in Camp David in September 1978, that no war without Egypt and no peace
without Syria, has been test proven in the past three years not only in the war
with Israel but in achieving stability in the region.
The
developments which took place in Doha and Cairo, where two diplomatic
'fire-extinguishing' operations were successfully conducted, proved that Syria
still holds the keys to peace in the region and is maintaining the position of
goal keeper in the region.
The
physical presence of the world's superpower, the USA, next to Syria's eastern
borders did not help turning down Syrians ambitions of playing a regional role
as the Americans hoped.
Damascus
has fully exploited the mistakes committed by the US in Iraq and the region and
used it to the benefit of the rulers of the country who were extremely patient
to improve their bargaining position in their struggle against isolation and
marginalisation.
Politically,
Syria is more influential now than it was some three years ago, but the level
of power injected in Syria is not sufficient for Syrian leaders to achieve
their objectives.
Syrian
diplomacy still lacks a powerful 'chip' in its foreign affairs and unless such
a 'chip' is restored in the right place; the improvement being achieved on
other fronts is not going to live long.
It is
no secret anymore that the relations between Syria and its traditional
strategic Arab allies are still not normal regardless of the diplomatic wording
to describe the row between Syria and both Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
The
three countries, which formed once what had been known as the tripod of Arab
joint-work leverage, are no more standing united and firm.
Syria
is busy establishing new relations and reviving old ones after it realised that
the roads to Cairo and Riyadh are a bit bumpy if not closed.
This,
in other words, means that the Arab joint-work tripod is not functioning
satisfactorily in supporting Arab interests and what we see as a sort of a
balancing dynamics in the region is just a false facade of more tense and
volatile conditions that are ready to explode at any moment.
Shared optimism
The
whole world shares Syrian optimism these days about three major developments
that took place in the region.
The
easing of the political tension in Lebanon following the Doha Agreement and the
election of President Michel Sulaiman, the truce in Gaza between Hamas and
Israel through Egyptian mediation and the launch of indirect talks between
Syria and Israel through Turkey are key developments in an area that lived
through hostility in the past 60 years.
The
three positive developments occurred in less than a month proving that the
region is loaded with pleasant surprises as well and the development which
looked distant occurred surprisingly fast with Syria key in achieving all
three.
But
Syria, in spite of its proven strategic position, cannot fulfil the three
projects alone without valuable support from its Arab counterparts. Syria which
also enjoys reasonable support from other Arab states still badly needs the
support of its heavy-weight Saudi and Egyptian partners.
The
glimmer of hope, Bashar can see now after the long bleak years in the region
and the changes 'that make the picture more positive' could - as he has rightly
warned - worsen again; if not backed with the right measures.
The
statements a hopeful Bashar made in India, reflect a triumph of Syrian
diplomacy, but fell short of being complete as it lacked the right steps
forward.
Syria
said the three developments are one package and unless resolved simultaneously,
it would be very easy for chaos to prevail again in the region. The
prescription to prevent such a backward move lies with mending fractured Arab
unity and reviving a reasonable level of cooperation and coordination amongst
Arabs.
All
signs indicate that Arab states including Syria, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are
aware of the fact that the situation in the region is too critical and the ray
of hope falling on the region is not yet sufficient to celebrate as light.
The
Syrian president as chairman of the Arab Summit for the current year should
renew his efforts to return Syria to third-leg position in the Arab tripod
along with both Saudi and Egypt.
Bashar
could have held on till after his return from Paris next month, to revive Arab
unity and take up his right position in the Arab world. But Bashar can no
longer wait for the US presidential election and the political developments in
Israel because the situation in the region is critical.
Furthermore,
Syria is the only country in the world that can mediate between Arab states and
Iran and ease GCC worries about the latter's nuclear programme. Such a move is
necessary to help in putting an end to another devastating confrontation still
looming on the horizon.
*
Published on June 22, 2008 in the UAE's GULF NEWS, where Duraid Al Baik is the
Foreign Editor.
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