All attention focussed on Astana to see Moscow's seriousness about pushing for
a cease-fire, releasing 13,000 people that are detained in the Syrian regime's
prisons and delivering aid to besieged areas after there was a glimmer of hope
for a peaceful solution to end the relentless war waged by the Russian backed
Syrian regime that destroyed the country and wiped out its people. Syrians
were therefore surprised by a war over the constitution in the name of changes
to it – as if the war in Syria that has destroyed everything during the last 6
years is not enough, and as if the occupation carried out by the Russians,
Iranians and 66 militias that are fighting alongside the regime is not enough.
On top of all that, they want to introduce a constitution written by the
Russians.
It is an international precedent when a country dares to write a constitution
for another country that is imposed from outside of it. This is what Russia
did when it submitted a new draft constitution for Syria to replace the
current constitution of 2012. The draft constitution has been prepared by
Russian experts in order to speed up the political process according to what
the Russian president's envoy to Syria Alexander Avrntiev announced to
reporters at the end of the Astana talks. As if the crisis in Syria is in need
of more complexity. Instead of giving the Syrian people the right to choose
its political, economic and social system without interference from any
country whether friendly or hostile, a country that is considered as an
occupying country by a large number of Syrians and the world is writing
Syria's constitution. Does this not confirm that Russia is trying to maintain
its control over Syria and protect its military, political and economic
interests in any way possible?
In March 2016, the United States and Russia agreed to set a time frame for the
regime and the opposition in Syria to write a new draft constitution for the
country. This agreement did not mention in any way that it would happen in
this way, a way that contradicts the most basic principles and diplomatic
norms.
The creation of the Syrian constitution by any external party does not
contribute to solving the crisis which may see a glimmer of light in Astana.
Russia represents Assad completely and by presenting this draft constitution,
even if it is the best constitution written and most suitable for Syria, the
Russian position that seeks to promote the country as a superpower that is
able to bring all Syrian parties together to the negotiating table, will
suffer from a setback.
Reaching a lasting peace is a lofty goal but the drafting of a Syrian
constitution by foreigners is a clear indication of Moscow's real desire to
solve the Syrian crisis according to its interests and the interests of the
regime which certainly will not be from the same angle that Syrians look at
their country.
Apart from leaks that disclosed that the Russian wording of the draft
constitution omitted the word ''Arab'' from the ''Syrian Arab Republic'' to
make it the ''Syrian Republic'', the principle of foreigners writing the
Syrian constitution shows that ''Moscow does not respect the Syrian state''.
This is the same expression that a Russian source used last year when he
denied that his country had presented a draft constitution to Syria. Does
Russia's change of mind and the fact that it presented the draft constitution
confirm its lack of respect for Syrians and Syria? It does appear so. In
addition to this, it also shows that Russia is not serious about presenting
itself as a neutral party between the regime and the opposition.
Salman Aldosary is the editor-in-chief of Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper.
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