Syria and the Arab League: An Arab Solution to an Arab Problem

The preliminary results of the Arab League’s observer mission in Syria were summarized at Sunday’s meeting of its ad hoc committee on Syria. Arab experts spent 10 days in areas gripped by riots and submitted daily reports of deaths in clashes between government forces and opposition supporters.

It was decided at the meeting to continue the observer mission in Syria. ITAR-TASS quotes a document is saying, “In accordance with the protocol signed with Damascus, the Arab League’s ministerial committee has decided to give observers time to continue their mission.”

The Arab League also decided to expand its observer mission in Syria. The mission began work on December 26 under a plan coordinated with the Syrian government to establish a dialogue between the government and the opposition. Currently, there are 163 observers from 12 Arab countries in Syria. The committee chairman, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, proposed increasing the size of the mission to 300 people and including UN experts to “provide assistance needed to more efficiently track events in Syria.” He said that this is the first time the Arab League has performed a mission of this type, so “foreign experience in this matter would be useful and would allow the experts to work more independently.” Damascus objected strongly to having foreign advisers in the Arab League’s mission.

Meanwhile, the Cairo meeting participants demanded better working conditions for the observers, whom many have criticized for poor performance and sometimes even inactivity. The foreign ministers reiterated their appeal for authorities in Damascus to stop the violence against the regime’s opponents.

They also decided that Arab League Secretary-General Nabil al-Arabi should continue coordinating efforts with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to give the observer mission more technical help. In addition to logistical support, the Arab League is asking for political and information support so that “the observers can carry out their mission more efficiently.”

The committee also urged League member countries to accelerate funding for the mission and recommended increasing funding for implementing the inter-Arab road map for resolving the crisis in Syria from $1 million to $5 million. The statement also said that amount could be increased, depending on conditions and the observer mission’s needs.

Observer mission head General Mohammed Ahmed Mustafa al-Dhabi reported in Cairo that the Syrian authorities are “assisting the Arab League’s observers.” He said, “The experts have only just begun to work, and it will take time for their efforts to bear fruit.” Incidentally, the ad hoc committee’s statement stressed that Gen. al-Dhabi’s report “was professionally done and is outstanding for its objectivity and neutrality.”

In parallel with the Arab League’s peacekeeping mission, which is seeking to end the bloodshed in Syria, Washington has recently become more active. Many politicians have noted that the Obama administration is pushing matters towards a military conflict with both Iran and Syria. There was a bitter exchange between Syrian and American officials. Damascus accused Washington of meddling in the affairs of the Arab League, which currently has an observer mission in the country. “The U.S. ... statements are a gross interference in the work of the Arab League,” said Syrian Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Maqdisi. He accused the United States of “seeking to rekindle violence” in the country.

The day prior, US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said that Assistant Secretary of the State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman would shortly be traveling to Cairo for consultations with Arab League representatives on the situation in Syria. He intended to do so before the Arab League foreign ministers’ meeting that reviewed the first report by the chief of the Arab observers mission in Syria.

Nuland accused the Syrian authorities of not meeting their obligations under the Arab initiative aimed at ending the violence in the country: “…The violence hasn’t stopped—far from it.” That same day, accusations against Syria that “sniper fire, torture and murder continue” were heard from White House spokesman Jay Carney. He said it is “past time” for the UN Security Council to act against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. “We want to see the international community stand together united in support of the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people,” he said.

Against that backdrop, the Russian naval task force led by the Admiral Kuznetsov heavy aircraft carrier at the Syrian port of Tartus was a very positive development. The large anti-submarine destroyer Admiral Chabanenko, the frigate Ladny and the tanker Lena entered the port. The Admiral Kuznetsov and a rescue tug took up station outside the harbor.

After replenishing supplies, the ships will leave Syrian waters and continue their long-term mission, said a Russian Defense Ministry spokesman. A Syrian news agency quoted a Russian officer as saying, “The port call is aimed at bringing the two countries closer together and strengthening their ties of friendship.”

The Syrian news agency SANA called the visit of Russian navy ships at Tartus a “demonstration of solidarity with the Syrian people.” The governor of Tartus province, Atef al-Nadaf, praised the “honorable position adopted by Russia which has stood by the Syrian people.”

The international media notes that despite the steady worsening of the situation in Syria Russia continues strongly supporting the Bashar al-Assad regime by blocking any attempts at international intervention. To that I can only add that Moscow’s actions are primarily aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the situation in the friendly nation of Syria that benefits its people.

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