Fragile hope for Syria
(VOV) - The 19-month long crisis in Syria has seen a fragile of hope when President Bashar Al Assad’s government agreed to a cease fire during Eid Al-Adha, the Muslim holy festival, starting on October 25.
The cease-fire will give the international community an opportunity to carry out humanitarian activities and is a first step toward ending the violence in Syria.
One day prior to the Eid Al Adha festival, the Arab League/ UN Special Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi announced that a cease-fire agreement during the four-day festival has been signed by both parties in Syria. This achievement is largely the work of Brahimi, who in the past few days has visited several countries seeking a solution to the crisis.
The UN Security Council released a statement praising the cease-fire agreement and calling on the warring parties in Syria to honor the agreement. The UN is likely to deploy a peacekeeping mission to Syria if the cease-fire happens. But, the deployment first needs approval from the 15 members of the UN Security Council. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arabian and African affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian said a Syrian national dialogue will be held soon.
Those are positive signs for Syria. Many observers, however, are skeptical that the cease-fire will be honoured by all parties.
The first challenge was reported after Brahimi announced the cease-fire. On October 23, the Al Nusra Islamic front rejected the holiday ceasefire. The group the same day joined the Free Syrian Army attacking Wadi Deif military bases in Idlib province.
Meanwhile, fierce clashes occurred around Damascus, Aleppo, the town of Maaret Al Numan, Syria’s north and northwestern regions and the southern province of Dara.
In April, Arab League/ UN special enjoy Kofi Annan tried to implement a cease-fire agreement, but it was broken within 24 hours later. There are indications that this agreement, too, will be broken.
According to Russia’s top military commander, the Syrian opposition forces are now armed with handheld air defense weapons including US-made Stingers. More dangerously, Turkey has given the US military permission to deploy about 70 nuclear bombs in the region.
In another development, foreign fighters have steadily poured into the country to join the anti-government rebels, worsening the situation. Kofi Annan warned that foreign weapons would further fuel the conflict which has already killed more than 34,000 people.
Outside pressure on President Al Assad has not diminished. In recent weeks, Turkey has deployed troops along its 900 km border with Syria. In addition, NATO is drafting a plan to protect Turkey, a NATO member.