Jordan’s initiative to solve the Syrian crisis.. Learn about its most prominent items

Jordan developed an initiative in 2021, with the aim of activating The political solution in Syria Through cumulative steps, or the principle of “step by step” in stages, to test the seriousness of the parties concerned.

With the return of Damascus to the Arab embrace and the change of reality in Syria and the region, Amman amended its paper after consultations with Arab and Western countries, to reach a new version in which it accurately specified the required steps.

The new text of the “Jordanian initiative” revealed that it includes three phases, starting with the humanitarian aspect, then the military-security aspect, and ending with the final political dimension, according to what was reported by Al-Majalla magazine.

No specific timetable

This initiative did not include “a specific timetable for implementation, but it concludes that the expected steps from Damascus and its allies are” the withdrawal of all Iranian military and security assets from Syria.

In addition to the “withdrawal of Hezbollah and the Shiite militias,” in return for “the withdrawal of all foreign forces and foreign fighters from all Syrian lands, which they entered after 2011, including the areas of northeastern Syria and the US al-Tanf base, the lifting of sanctions, and donor funding for the reconstruction of Syria.”

Some elements of the “initiative” go back to the stage before Syria’s return to the Arab League on May 7, and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s attendance at the Arab summit in Jeddah on the 19th of the same month, but the “initiative”, which came after Jordanian consultations with Arab parties International and Western, it reflects thinking about how to get out of the status quo.

This “initiative” links all the elements of the Syrian crisis that Damascus, its allies, and its opponents hold dear, and presents a vision of a solution according to a “step by step” approach to get out of the tunnel that has been going on for 12 years, and that is costly to the Syrians and neighboring countries.

3 levels

The authors of the “initiative” suggested supporting the “step by step” initiative proposed by the UN envoy, Geir Pedersen, to reach a political solution based on United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 2254, and to mobilize support for a new initiative among Arab, regional and international partners with similar ways of thinking, and to agree on a mechanism. For the involvement of the Syrian government on the basis of “requests” and “offers”, and seeking Russia’s approval of this approach.

The initiative also lists three levels of work, under “requests” and “offers”; Politically, “the overarching goal is to reach a political solution that preserves the unity, integrity, and sovereignty of Syria, gradually addresses all the consequences of the crisis, and restores Syria’s security, stability, and regional status.”

And he envisioned a direct engagement of a number of Arab countries with the Syrian government, stressing that “this Arab-led approach must be gradual, focusing first on alleviating the suffering of the Syrians. It must also define steps that will support efforts to combat terrorism and limit the increase in Iranian influence.” And stop the deterioration that harms our common interests.

security, military and humanitarian

On the security and military front, the “initiative” calls for the implementation of a cease-fire on all Syrian territory and “addressing the issue of foreign terrorist fighters, and addressing the issue of the Iranian presence and the concerns of neighboring countries (including drug smuggling).”

On the humanitarian front, the initiative aims to “gradually change the behavior of the Syrian government in exchange for incentives that are carefully determined in the interest of the Syrian people and to enable an environment conducive to the voluntary return of the displaced and refugees,” so that the United Nations is responsible for delivering all humanitarian support. Issued by the United Nations.

3 stages of action

The “initiative” identifies three stages of action without mentioning a general timetable or for each of the three stages, which include the “near”, “medium” and “long” term, and relate to detainees and missing persons, and the return of refugees and displaced persons. As for the second stage, it relates to Iran and drugs. And a third phase with two internal dimensions that talks about reconciliation and reform, and a distant one that focuses on the withdrawal of foreign powers and political reintegration.

It is noteworthy that Syria returned to the Arab embrace after an absence of about 12 years, in an extraordinary meeting held by the Arab League Council at the level of foreign ministers in Cairo last May.