Abdul Majeed Barakat, Vice President of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC), has unequivocally asserted that the Assad regime is unfit for any form of partnership, whether political, regional, or Arab. In an exclusive statement to Anadolu Agency, Barakat emphasized that the SOC has engaged in discussions with several Arab countries, advising them that the Assad regime is incapable of fulfilling its promises and lacks the autonomy to make independent decisions.
Barakat highlighted the regime’s dismal track record, citing a surge in security threats to the Arab region following Arab normalization with the Assad regime. Furthermore, he noted a concerning rise in drug trafficking and exacerbated challenges in the Syrian political process. The regime’s failure to engage constructively, particularly with the Constitutional Committee, further underscores its unsuitability as a partner.
“In this context, we have communicated with numerous Arab nations, preemptively assuring them that the Assad regime cannot deliver on its commitments due to its fundamental inability to make decisions or act autonomously,” Barakat stated.
The impasse in the political process has led many nations to seek alternative avenues to address the Syrian crisis, potentially motivating some Arab countries to normalize relations with the regime. Their aim was to secure guarantees from the regime pertaining to Syria, encompassing issues such as the political process, security assurances for Arab nations, and even potential military agreements.
However, Barakat emphasized that the Assad regime failed to provide any of these requested guarantees. “The regime, fundamentally beholden to the will of Iran and Russia, lacks the capacity to make independent decisions,” he stressed.
Consequently, the Arab countries have been compelled to reconsider their normalization efforts with the Assad regime. This reevaluation underscores the profound challenges associated with engaging with a regime heavily influenced by external powers.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
