[gha] Syria negotiations.
- From: Wadlowz@xxxxxxx
- To: gha@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 9 Sep 2013 06:48:10 -0400 (EDT)
World Citizens Call for a Ceasefire and Renewed Good-faith Negotiations by
All Parties in Syria
Rene Wadlow*
World Citizens have called for good-faith negotiations among all the
parties from the start of the demonstrations in March 2011 which had begun in a
spirit of non-violence. Neither the Government nor the oppositions were
willing to set an agenda or a timetable for such good-faith negotiations.
The Government held out vague promises for reform but without details and
without open discussion among those concerned. As the fighting has escalated,
the possibility of good-faith negotiations has increasingly faded, despite
efforts by the UN mediators to facilitate such negotiations.
Discussion of specific issues for reform or setting an overall agenda
seems impossible for the moment. However, there is a growing awareness that
there is a dangerous stalemate and that there is no military “solution”. It
is often at this “stalemate” stage of a conflict that the parties turn to a
negotiated compromise.(1) The dangers of a wider conflict with more
States involved are real. Thus the situation requires careful concerted
action.
The use of chemical weapons in violation of the 1925 Geneva Protocol
( by Government forces or by the armed oppositions) has added an
additional element of danger but not modified the stalemated structure of the
conflict.
Therefore, the Association of World Citizens calls upon the Syrian
Government, armed oppositions, and representative associations of Syrians to
initiate a ceasefire followed quickly by good-faith negotiations.
The Association of World Citizens calls upon all other States to refrain
from arming or in other ways strengthening the military capacities of the
Government’s armed forces and the armed forces of the armed oppositions.
Other States should, through the United Nations and through other
institutions,
encourage good-faith negotiations.
The Association of World Citizens calls upon Non-governmental
Organizations, both Syrian and international, to facilitate the transition from
the
ongoing violence to a situation conducive to creative dialogue.
Note
1) See: Louis Kriesberg and Stuart Thorson.(Eds). Timing the De-Escalation
of International Conflicts (Syracuse University Press, 1991)
*Rene Wadlow, President, Association of World Citizens
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