Syrian Coalition: Assad is Fully Aware That a Political Solution Means His Downfall

Hisham Marwa, member of the Legal Committee, said that the Assad regime is stalling the handover of his chemical weapons, citing reports that only 4 % of the overall stockpile has been handed over so far. “Assad will give up his stockpile of chemical weapons only when there is a real threat of using force by the international community in case of non-compliance with the UNSC resolutions. Assad is fully aware that his survival depends on his possession of the chemical weapons, which he uses as a card to put pressure and extort the international community in general and the Syrian people in particular,” Marwa said. He also points out that “this is synonymous with the remarks made by Buthaina Shaaban, Assad’s political adviser, who said during the Geneva II conference that the Syrian crisis could only be resolved through the use of force, which suggests that the Assad regime is unlikely to seriously seek a political solution as they are fully aware that a political solution would lead to Assad’s downfall.” Marwa concluded that the Assad regime’s talk about a political solution is no more than a political maneuver aimed at avoiding possible legal procedures against them.” (Source: Syrian Coalition)