Enab Baladi – Jana al-Issa
On January 12th, the UN Envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, stated that it is possible to consider amending the UN Resolution 2254 or adopting another resolution concerning Syria, following the changes that have occurred in the country after the fall of the ousted regime.
Pedersen’s statements came after the interim government of Damascus expressed reservations about clauses in the resolution, taking into account that the existing resolution to resolve the conflict between the two parties is no longer applicable in its literal form after the role of one of these parties, namely the previous regime, has ended, as its president, Bashar al-Assad, fled to Moscow, and most of his senior officials escaped abroad on December 8, 2024.
Pedersen said at the time, “We have failed to address the Syrian issue over the past years, and we must rebuild trust… The international community is now united in supporting Syria.”
International and Arab parties are calling for the resolution to serve as a reference for mapping the political future of Syria, seeing it as a means to achieve stability in Syria and that the transition from Assad’s Syria to a new Syria is linked to the implementation of this resolution, which mentions political transformation in only one clause.
No details on amendments
Pedersen did not mention any additional details regarding the nature of the amendments that would occur to the resolution, or what the new UN resolution regarding Syria could entail.
Resolution 2254 was adopted during UN Security Council session number 7588, held on December 18, 2015, affirming its commitment to Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity, and to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
The resolution, which was signed in 16 clauses, endorsed the Geneva Statement and the Vienna Statements as the basis for achieving any political transition in Syria through a Syrian-led political process. It also reiterated in some of its clauses the necessity of commencing a ceasefire, except for factions listed on that time’s “terrorist lists”, which included the Islamic State group and al-Nusra Front, the latter of which severed its ties with al-Qaeda later and passed through several stages to form Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is currently leading the opposition towards the presidential palace in Damascus.
As a final phase, the UN resolution addressed the necessity of establishing a transitional government in Syria with a duration of 18 months, conducting a national dialogue that involves Syrians, drafting a new constitution for the country, allowing humanitarian agencies and international organizations to access affected areas, and assisting affected Syrians.
To discuss these details, Enab Baladi contacted the spokesperson for the UN Envoy’s press office, Jenifer Fenton, but she could not obtain specific information on the anticipated amendments regarding the UN resolution on Syria.
Fenton confirmed Pedersen’s statement that it is well understood that the UN resolution 2254 cannot be applied literally in Syria under recent developments. For example, the previous regime will not be a party in any future process, and there are certainly other examples that necessitate new approaches and ways of thinking on numerous fronts.
However, there is widespread consensus that the political transition in Syria still needs to achieve the core aspects outlined in resolution 2254, according to spokesperson Fenton, which are:
- A credible, inclusive, and transparent transitional process led and owned by the Syrians.
- Ensuring the formation of a credible, inclusive, and non-sectarian transitional government.
- Drafting a new constitution through a reliable and inclusive process.
- Conducting free and fair elections, including all Syrians, according to international standards.
Necessary amendments
Regarding the amendments that should be included in the resolution, Syrian political researcher Nader al-Khalil noted that since the fall of the ousted regime, attention has turned to the role of the UN in Syria in light of statements from the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa, about the futility of working with the UN resolution 2254, issued for a prior stage, and that fundamental amendments must be introduced.
Pedersen’s recent statements regarding the possibility of amending the resolution or adopting a new resolution signal potential transformations in the political scene, according to what Nader al-Khalil confirmed to Enab Baladi.
In light of these developments, al-Khalil believes that there are several issues that need to be amended in the resolution to be suitable for the current phase, which are:
- The Political Process: There should be a focus on involving all Syrian parties in the political process, including various opposition factions and civil society, to ensure comprehensive representation.
- Elections: Amend provisions regarding elections to ensure they are supervised by a neutral international body and that all Syrians inside and outside the country can participate under criteria that guarantee fairness and transparency.
- Human Rights: Strengthening provisions for the protection of human rights and ensuring accountability for those responsible for violations and crimes.
- Humanitarian Aid: Facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid to all Syrian areas without discrimination and ensuring it is not used as a political tool.
To ensure the success of his efforts, it remains in Pedersen’s interest to coordinate with the new Syrian administration on the Syrian file, as this coordination could contribute to making tangible progress in the political process and democratic transition and enhancing the chances of reaching a comprehensive and credible peaceful solution while demonstrating the UN’s commitment to achieving peace in Syria.
Nader al-Khalil, Syrian political researcher
International community as a guarantor for political transition
International efforts must be combined to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable democratic political system in Syria, with a focus on protecting human rights and ensuring justice and accountability, as emphasized by researcher Nader al-Khalil.
The UN’s role in Syria requires a comprehensive reassessment in light of current circumstances. It remains essential to amend resolution 2254 or adopt a new resolution centered on reconciliation, development, reconstruction, refugees’ return, and ensuring a smooth political change toward a fair and comprehensive democratic system for all Syrians, through involving all concerned parties. Coordinating with the new Syrian administration may be a vital step toward achieving success in UN efforts, contributing to the establishment of lasting stability in the country.
Regarding the parties that should participate in the creation of the new decision or the amendment of resolution 2254, Nader al-Khalil sees the necessity of the presence of four main parties: first, the UN as the sponsoring entity of the political process; second, the major powers such as the United States, Russia, China, among others, to ensure robust international support; third, several regional countries such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and those with significant influence on the situation in Syria; and finally, certainly the Syrian parties including the new leadership and all opposition parties, armed factions, and civil society.
It is not in the interest of the new Syrian administration to “defy” the international community, especially with the clear will and international oversight (if that term is applicable) to achieve a political transition to a democratic system that includes a new constitution, an electoral process for the president, and the structure of the government, among other related matters, as emphasized by political researcher Nader al-Khalil.
Al-Khalil added, “Here, some may see that this point could harm Syrians due to the presence of international interventions. However, the alternative view suggests that the overall interest of the Syrians is not to allow the new administration to monopolize power in the country; this is in the interest of all Syrians, provided there is pressure from various Syrian parties that this intervention serves the interests of the Syrians.”
The importance of this matter today is highlighted, according to the researcher, especially in light of what could be described as a convergence of interests at a historical moment between all Syrians on one side and most regional countries and effective international forces on the other, appearing to agree on a vision for a new stable Syria. To achieve this long-term stability, a legitimate governance system that enjoys popular legitimacy resulting from democratic legitimacy and elections—not just revolutionary legitimacy—must be established.
Thus, it is in the interest of the new Syrian administration to harness this general trend and not oppose it to avoid permanently lifting sanctions and preventing large-scale reconstruction of the country, as doing so would negatively affect everyone, leading to a significant portion of the Syrian community distancing itself from the new administration.