The admission of the Syrian opposition to the Arab League should not be seen as a triumphant recognition of the Syrian National Coalition’s sole right to do what it wants with Syria. Instead, the Arab League is seeking to encourage the Coalition to recognise its responsibilities to the Geneva Process, under which the opposition and government will form a transitional government which will then define a way to build a new and inclusive Syria. It is important that all parties to the brutal war in Syria understand that the Arab nations do not see one side or the other shooting its way to victory.
The unusual element in this week’s Arab League statement is that the League recognised the right of its member states to arm the opposition with lethal weapons. This could lead to dangerous developments if the Coalition takes it as an excuse to ignore its political responsibilities while focusing solely on the military struggle. There is no doubt that the government needs to be brought to account, and no Arab nation is willing to support the regime of Bashar Al Assad after its terrible treatment of its own people. However, the supporters of Al Assad’s regime must have a role to play in a future Syria.
In particular, the Alawite community must be made to feel welcome in building plans for a new Syria by today’s opposition leaders. The sectarianism which is creeping into the opposition’s thinking is a dangerous snare for the Coalition, which may welcome the military support of armed Islamist groups today, but will bitterly regret this tomorrow when the same groups refuse to join the future government.
Those governments that are rushing to supply lethal weapons to the opposition may be helping them in the short term. But working on the regime’s backers like Iran and Russia to support an end to the war would be more helpful in the long run. All parties in the Syrian conflict need to avoid making the inevitable polarisation of the civil war a long-term political position.
