Astana talk, a step towards political resolution

Qodsna; Hossein Rouyvaran:

The Astana peace talk on Syria is billed to have a good prospect for paving the way for a political resolution of the situation.

A ceasefire between the government and the armed rebels holds as the longest-held ceasefire ever in the 6-year war, showing the two sides have a resolve for relinquishing the military solution.

The very sitting of the opposition groups on the table of negotiation with the government representatives is a major achievement that indicates the possibility of resolving the Syrian crisis through political means.

Speculations are rife that the talks, held behind closed doors hinge around several topics, including continued ceasefire, preservation of Syria’s integrity, incorporation of a secular system and fighting against terrorism in the country.

Continued ceasefire would serve as a trust building move between the two sides by allowing them to keep away from the ambience of conflict.

The parties are also expected to be negotiating the establishment of a secular system under the UN resolution 2254 after the demand of certain armed groups for the removal of secular identity was rejected.

The anti-terrorism combat will be another major theme in the peace talk. Under the UN resolution 2253, the fight against such terror groups as the Nusra Front and the ISIS has been considered as a prelude to the resolution of the crisis in Syria. Put it another way, as long as the terror groups are roaming Syria, the possibility of peace is zero. Question rises as to which groups are supposed to fight the terror groups.

The imperative mission is an undertaking for all parties that sit negotiation in the Astana talks, indeed because the terror groups have already showed they are an existential threat for all parties, even the opposition groups and Turkey.

Turkey in the past perceived the terror groups’ emergence as an opportunity for advancing its economic and political goals and therefore promoted the terrorism. The spread of crisis to the country however prompted the Turkish authorities to think twice and review their policies over Syria.