Syrian Press: Damascus Shaping the Region's Future

The Syrian and Arab press regarded the diplomatic activity in Damascus as signaling the success of President Assad's strategic approach, according to which the resolution of regional problems is to be achieved not by external forces but by local powers alone, with Syria at their head. In an article titled "The Solutions Lie with Us," As'ad 'Aboud, editor of the Syrian government daily Al-Thawra, wrote: "...The greatest step [made] today regarding the nations and countries of our region is the return to Damascus. If Damascus's word had been taken into account from the start, things would not have reached a crisis throughout the region. What is important now is that hope has been restored, and the inclination is [to believe] that 'solutions to the [region's] problems will come from the region's countries, not from abroad.' This approach, which Syria and Turkey in particular have advocated for years now, provides the broadest access to all possible solutions. These issues are our own, and we can discuss [them] without limitations or restrictions, and reach an understanding without any confusion..."[2]

Columnist Ziad Haydar wrote in a similar vein in an article in the Syrian daily Al-Watan titled "The Region's Future Is Being Determined in Damascus": "The activity in Damascus [constitutes] a summit of the region's leaders or their representatives, intended to shape the [region's] future and advance its stability, especially in light of the special relationship that exists between Damascus and Ankara and the [relationship that has developed] recently between Damascus and Beirut. Lebanese Prime Minister Al-Hariri's successful two-day visit and his three meetings with President Assad made him a new partner in crystallizing the future of the region, far from the pressures exerted on him and on all the Lebanese.

"Davutoglu's visit [to Damascus] was concurrent with that of Al-Sadr and 'Allawi, and preceded by that of 'Ammar Al-Hakim, chairman of the Islamic Supreme Council [of Iraq], who arrival last month. The main purpose of these visits was to discuss the formation of an Iraqi government in Baghdad...

"[These] recent developments must be linked to the [fact that] elements both inside and outside Iraq [attempted] to establish a government there which is [politically] uniform, but failed, and [now] it is expected that the next Iraqi government will be established in Baghdad, but its [makeup] will be determined in Damascus..."[3]

Elie Shalhoub, writing for the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar, also pointed to the central role Damascus is playing in the establishment of a new Iraqi government: "In light of failures [to reach an agreement] in Baghdad, and after fissures appeared in the understandings reached in Tehran, it would seem that Assad is holding all the strings [for forming an Iraqi government]..."[4]

The West Will Be Forced to Take Syria's Diplomatic Activity into Account

Reporting on the intensive diplomatic scene in Damascus, the Syrian press linked Syria's recent activity to failed attempts by the U.S. and the West to resolve problems in the region. 'Aboud wrote: "...American incompetence leaves the Iraqis one choice – to reach an internal understanding vis-à-vis their national unity and the [establishment of] a government which represents Iraq's interests, and [at the same time] to] to turn to the countries of the region, so that improvement of the domestic situation in Iraq be accompanied by the development of [Iraq's] foreign relations. Due to its incompetence, the U.S. has sent the Palestinians an old senator [i.e. George Mitchell] who has nothing to offer [but] cries of 'Oh Palestinians, reconcile among yourselves!'

"Lebanon emerged from crisis only after it sought a solution within itself, and at the same time turned to the countries of the region [for assistance]. We are not the ones currently preventing the outside elements from intervening in our domestic affairs. They [themselves] explicitly declare their inability to propose any solution... We hold our own cards and [have] the solutions to our own problems. We – Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey – all of us..."[5]

Wasim Al-Ahmar, a columnist for the Syrian daily Al-Watan, wrote: "While Paris and Washington are thinking over their initiatives and [considering] with whom to talk and whom to ostracize, this region is witnessing diplomatic activity whose main axis is Damascus and Ankara. The players on the outside will be forced to take this activity into account and maybe even depend on it, [instead of working] outside of it."[6]