The military operations that commenced on 27th November have proven beyond any doubt what the Syrian Association for the Citizens’ Dignity has been working to convey to both international and regional decision-makers over the past years:
The Assad regime is no longer capable of governing Syria and is not a reliable party for achieving sustainable political solutions. Political initiatives based on appeasing the Syrian regime and offering concessions to it, such as the ‘step-for-step’ initiative and the ‘Constitutional Committee,’ are doomed to failure due to the flawed foundations on which they were built on and the assumption that the Assad regime has triumphed over the Syrian people.
The obvious truth is that the Syrian regime has completely disintegrated after losing all legitimacy among Syrians and subsequently losing the support of its allies, who had saved it multiple times from total collapse, the last instance being in 2015. The regime has wasted all the aid it received since 2019, as well as the money it generated from the drug trade, to enrich a specific elite within its ranks rather than rebuilding the state or even its own militias. Assad has become a threat to regional stability and cannot be relied upon to achieve sustainable regional stability.
The Syrian Association for Citizens’ Dignity calls on international and regional parties supporting the political process in Syria to fundamentally reconsider the foundations of this process and to restructure it in alignment with the new reality. Past mistakes must be avoided, with the core of these foundations centered on establishing a safe environment for all Syrians across Syria—a task that will neither be easy nor quick. As the Association has always emphasized, it is essential to ensure a strong and influential voice for displaced Syrians, who constitute half of Syrian society, so that any political solution may have genuine legitimacy and realistic chances of success and sustainability.
Transformation of areas falling outside the control of the Syrian regime to safe areas should be a priority for Syrians and the international community. It has become evident once again that the return of Syrian refugees and displaced persons will not be achieved without the presence of a truly safe environment, which cannot be attained as long as the Syrian regime remains in place. Therefore, the Syrian people urge groups of countries which are friends of the Syrian People to seize this opportunity and provide the necessary support to Syrians to build a safe environment in areas recently liberated from regime control. This will make them ready and capable of accommodating displaced persons from these areas and anyone wishing to return voluntarily.
Recent developments mark the beginning of a new political era in modern Syrian history. Syrians must realize that, despite all achievements in recent days, the road ahead is long and full of great challenges. Achieving the goals sought by all segments of the Syrian society will require unprecedented cooperation and integration. Therefore, we call on civil bodies and organizations to place a clear roadmap with the mechanisms necessary for establishing the safe environment that ensures the return of the displaced and a dignified and secure life for all Syrians. Civil society, through its institutions, should serve as a monitoring body to oversee the realization of a safe environment in Syria.
The wheel of history has moved and will not go backward. In fact, the wheel began moving in 2011, and what we see today is the fruit of the peaceful popular movement initiated by the Syrian people, who have paid a heavy price, qualifying and giving them the right to aspire to the best possible life. The international community must support the will of the Syrians and pave the way for them to achieve freedom and a dignified life.
