Chatham House: A foreign policy for the new Syria

This is a Chatham House interview with Asaad al-Shaibani, foreign minister of Syria.
After a decade of civil war in Syria, it is how looking to rebuild its international relations and status in the world. This is the first public event for the Syrian foreign minister in the United KIngdom, so we can expect to see the future plans for his country and how they seek to engage and develop international relations with us. The meeting is chaired by Sir Simon Fraser

Asaad al-Shaibani was a member of the Syrian opposition to Assad and was in charge of foreign affairs for the Islamic resistance during the civil war. He has just been to Washington to meet Donald Trump, the US President. He has just put the flag up in Belgrave Square at the newly reopened Syrian Embassy in London. al-Shaibani was speaking in his native Arabic so I was relying on the interpreter to understand him.

The American government have just, last week, removed all sanctions against the new Syrian government in the Security Council. The Syrian embassy had been closed in London after the use of chemical weapons against the Syrian people by President Assad. He thanks the U.K. government for choosing to close it in the first place. He has just had a meeting with the foreign secretary here. He is trying to deepen relationships and he mentions that the U.K. has taken an advanced decision to reopen Syrian ties in the new regime. He aims to rebuild and improve ties between our countries. The U.K. government have said that they are taking a pragmatic approach to the whole situation. It is the opportunity of both governments to make use of the renewal of ties. Syria is a major country and what happened in the civil war was of major concern to the whole world. He says that there are no refugees now. Syria needs rebuilding. A million Syrians abroad have returned home and 1.5 million internally displaced people have also returned. This is an opportunity all Syrians dreamed of after over a million Syrians were martyred during the war. He is introducing Syria back to the world. They are taking a moral and pragmatic approach.

There has been a worldwide change in attitudes toward Syria. What sort of regime is the new Syria? Will it be a secure, inclusive society? People are concerned that it will be a Sunni-led Islamic government. Will there be universal suffrage and elections? The depth of Syrian civilization and heritage and elite means that Syrians will not accept something that they do not want. He likes the new government to being a patient in an intensive care ward. He is aiming to raise up the hopes of the Syrian people. SInce the fall of Assad over 11 days the new government has spent 11 months dealing with Syria itself, national problems. He needs the people to believe in the new State . HE aspires that the new State will encompass multilateralism. He has filled the vacuum during the past 11 months. He hopes that there will be a political culture where political expression is allowed with no secrecy or fear. He cannot predict what sort of State there will be in five years but he can control what Syrians will experience inj the near future.

Sharia Law is in the foundation of the Constitution. People are concerned about this direction. How will it affect travel? What is the inclusiveness of the Institution? It is a plural election-based State with Presidential and Parliamentary elections. This is clear. Not all people had returned in time for the Parliamentary elections and he expects new political parties to develop and be created as people settle. He believes that only 30% has been achieved so far and that the government intends to go on improving. He wants Syrians to live together in communities. He cites the synagogue in Damascus being protected by a Muslim family and he says that there is no sectarianism in Syria. The former Assad regime has left chemical weapons and a coalition is working with the UK. being a partner. With the unexploded ordinances he is trying to prevent a further outbreak of hostilities and civil war. The foreign ministry is a minority and they do not have the resources that the previous regime’s departments have. He doesn’t want to upset the current institutions. Some aspects are not ideal but the culture of the former institutions has been maintained even if they are weak. He hopes that a gap will not be left and that it can be filled in the near future.

It is mentioned that there have been attacks on the Alawites and Druze earlier this year that have been blamed on the regime. Will retribution continue? These incidents were occurring in the South and it is hoped that Israel will not see it as an excuse to intervene. The government is investigating and has set up a commission to make an inquiry into what caused these two separate incidents. The national commission that worked over three months and collected over 1000 testimonies came up with some findings. He said that the majority of Alawites are living in peace. In the coastal area there are problems between the Druze and Bedouins and when Israel intervened it escalated the situation. There is a buffer zone set up to prevent clashes. Trust needs to start to be built in the communities. Druze living in Damascus and other areas have no problem. Some sides are intervening who do not seek good for Syria. There are still remnants of the regime and there are abductions and looting occurring. There is a wound on the Syrian body in th trouble zone and it needs to be remedied.

Israel is active in the South and what will be the foreign policy towards the relationship with Israel. They believe that Israel is a negative actor and that it is opposed to what happened in Syria and the new government. Syria wants to focus on rebuilding itself and not to have any side struggles with neighbors like Israel. Half the population are still living outside and it is hoped that they can safely return. Syria has been under a dictatorship for a long time and he relishes the opportunity the Syrian people now have for democracy. He doesn’t want to be on the side of any agenda or a messenger for other agendas. Israel now occupies part of the 1974 border that had been agreed. He seeks deescalation and a return to the agreed borders. Syria has not shot a single bullet at Israel. He seeks a better solution for Syria for the future. He wants Israel to see a unified Syria and it is in Israel’s best interests to see this happen but he feels that Israel wants a divided, weak Syria as it sees it as a danger. However, the USA and other international partners do not agree with Israeli opinions.

Sir Simon Fraser used to be a diplomat in Syria and realizes its power in the region. He wants to know what Syria’s foreign policy towards the Arab States within the region will be? There are huge aspirations but also realistic ones. Syria requires good marketing officers to promote the new government. Assad spoiled relations with the international world. The new government is trying to reintroduce Syria to the world and rebuilding trust and then relations, politically, culturally and socially. he wants Syria to be a actor in restoring peace and in assisting other countries experiencing problems like they have done.

What role do women have in the future of Syria? There are aspirations and reality,. Women in Syria are strong, educated and empowered. women are active in all the institutions. He says that the culture of women in society needs to be improved with awareness being raised. Women need to participate in government. 60% of his advisors as foreign minister are women.

What chances are there of unity happening in Syria? there are lots of different groups. Is there time and what are the risks? Can Syria be revived as a polity? In terms of unity of Syria, it is alike a painting. Its beauty and brightness cannot be seen unless it is completed. It is a mosaic that has specific characteristics of each region. Each part comes as part of the entire painting. They do not seek a hasty way of forming unity without resolving all the separate problems and issues.

They are having meetings with the SDF to try and promote peace and unity. He wants things settled quickly so that international investment can arrive promptly. He thinks that progress has been achieved during a short period and hopes that this continues. He doesn’t want any division or federalism. There are certain cultural and linguistic peculiarities and trust needs to be rebuilt with each individual community. The President’s slogan is ‘rebuilding through investment.’ there are lots of investment opportunities in Syria. There are opportunities in lots of sector, Sport, Technology, Tourism. They are revising investment law so there is a legal framework for investment. The defunct regime used to threaten investors so it was an unwelcoming environment for investment. He is hoping to break this characteristic. He wants there to be protection for investors.

How will Syria navigate the regional turmoil? What is the situation of Syria’s relationship with Russia and in particular the Russian military bases in the country. Syria doesn’t want to be dealing with conflicts ion the geopolitical arena. He wants peace as they have had enough. he doesn’t want to become a proxy State for other conflicts. Russia is related to the past and was a partner to the former regime. There is a pragmatic approach to Russia. They have been there for ten years now. The international community were not vocal enough to stop the bombing during the conflict. He wants there to be a balanced way and he says that Russia will have to change from its previous relationship but the new government seeks peace and wants to regulate the relationship with them. the main purpose is the reconstruction of Syria.

What is the state of transitional justice? Will the Syrian Arab Republic have its name changed to incorporate all the elements of the State? Are the PKK infiltrating Syria?

They are working on transitional justice in order to protect society – he wants victims to have justice. If no justice is achieved then it will lead to undesired results. Torture, bombings and other crimes against the Syrian people will be punished. For the country name to be changed it will have to be moved through Parliament. Let’s talk about the broken hand in the emergency room and not the colour of the cast. All elements of Syrian society will be invited to participate. People’s rights who suffered under the old regime have to have their rights protected in the Constitution. The PKK or any other destabilising element are not welcome in Syria.

What are the views towards the situation in Gaza? The world is impressed with the speed at which global international relations have been achieved. What are diplomatic relations with Turkey going to be like?
Syria has sympathy with the Palestinian cause and seeks humanitarian aid for that troubled region. He wants US intervention there to continue. Re. Turkey a consulate has been opened – the Ankara embassy has been lost as it was hired and the previous regime failed to pay for it. A new embassy will be opened and this is important as there are distinguished relations with Turkey. There is a will of the Syrian people for reconstruction. This is not a problem. Syrians are a proud and dignified people. He says there are friends and countries who are assisting Syria. The world has to assist in the rebuilding to help the Syrian people.

There is concern about the evolution of the future but it was great to here the foreign minister presenting this at Chatham House in London and it certainly was optimistic and hopeful after the terrible recent situation of civil war unrest that Syria has experienced.