Syrian opposition figures and Gulf commentators dismissed yesterday a Russian draft proposal for a process to solve the Syrian crisis, saying Moscow’s aim was to keep President Bashar al-Assad in power and marginalise dissenting voices.
Separately, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said that if Mr Assad’s departure were not completed peacefully, it would be achieved militarily, although he did not address the Russian proposal.
A draft document obtained by Reuters on Tuesday showed Moscow would like Damascus and unspecified opposition groups to agree on launching a constitutional reform process of up to 18 months, followed by early presidential elections.
Russia, which with Iran has been Mr Assad’s top ally during Syria’s nearly five-year conflict, has denied any document is being prepared before a second round of international peace talks in Vienna this week.
The text, obtained by Reuters, does not rule out Mr Assad’s participation in early presidential elections, something his enemies say is impossible if there is to be peace.
“The Syrian people have never accepted the dictatorship of Assad and they will not accept that it is reintroduced or reformulated in another way,” said Monzer Akbik, member of the Western-backed Syrian National Coalition.
“The Russians are now trying to play the game they have been playing since Geneva,” he said, referring to United Nations-led peace talks that collapsed in 2014. Russia began airstrikes in Syria six weeks ago after insurgents edged closer to government-held areas vital to Mr Assad. It has also stepped up its diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions.
Hadi al-Bahra, a member of the coalition’s political committee, dismissed the idea of holding elections under the current system. “How can the elections be fair when the citizens inside Syria are afraid of retaliation from the security services of the regime?” he said.
The US, its allies in the Gulf Cooperation Council and Turkey, who have backed the uprising against Mr Assad, have also all said he must leave power for there to be peace. Saudi Arabia is one of Mr Assad’s most strident opponents and Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir has said he must be removed from power as part of a solution.
“If Bashar al-Assad’s departure is not completed in a peaceful manner, then it will be completed in a military manner,” Mr Jubeir told reporters in Riyadh after a summit of Arab and Latin American leaders.
A summit communique expressed support for the Geneva 1 communique, a 2012 document setting out guidelines for Syria’s path to peace including a transitional governing authority. The communique said such an authority must be chosen by the Damascus government and opposition by mutual consent, which Washington has said in effect rules out Mr Assad staying in power.
A Western diplomat said the Russian document appeared to be “a trial balloon” to test international reaction, and also to calm any uneasiness among Mr Assad’s entourage.
Sources close to Damascus and diplomats say Russia and Iran have told Syria they will use the Vienna talks to shore up the government’s position and resist any solution that forces Mr Assad out of office. A senior Syrian official last week rejected the idea of a “transitional period” leading towards the removal of Mr Assad, as sought by Western states.
“The Russians and the Iranians agree with each other on the topic of commitment to Assad – this commitment is final,” a source close to Damascus said.