Sochi Statement: Syrian Army to Be Brought Under Constitution

Destruction in Syria. (AFP)
Destruction in Syria. (AFP)
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Sochi Statement: Syrian Army to Be Brought Under Constitution

Destruction in Syria. (AFP)
Destruction in Syria. (AFP)

A draft paper to be issued at the end of the Syrian National Dialogue Congress due in Sochi next week stipulates the need to form a “national army brought that operates under the constitution” and that the security apparatus abide by the “human rights law.”

The paper also calls on the Syrian regime to stress “national unity” and provide “a just representation of the self-administrated authorities.”

Asharq Al-Awsat received on Monday a copy of the declaration written by Moscow.

According to how Russia sees a solution in Syria, the Sochi Congress is expected to lead to the establishment of three committees: a presidential committee for the Congress, a special committee for constitutional reforms and a committee for elections and the registration of voters.

The meeting is scheduled for January 29 and 30.

Moscow was also keen that its draft paper be based on the 12 political principles previously presented by UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura in Geneva last November.

De Mistura had then published 12 principles for a future Syria that he handed to both regime and opposition delegations. His principles stipulate that the country “shall be democratic and non-sectarian.”

A western official said on Monday: “It will be difficult for Damascus to reject the Sochi principles.”

He added that Moscow wanted to include the 12-point principles in its Sochi declaration to secure the attendance of de Mistura at the congress after UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres had set a series of conditions for the UN to attend the meeting.

According to the draft paper, members attending the Syrian Congress in Sochi could reach 1,600 participants who “represent the entire factions of the Syrian community and the different political, civil, ethnic, religious and social forces.”

Meanwhile, talks held between High Negotiations Committee (HNC) leader Naser al- Hariri and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday evening, are expected to play a decisive role concerning the group’s participation at the Sochi Congress, particularly in the presence of objections voiced by Syrian armed factions.

Before meeting with Lavrov, al-Hariri had avoided receiving an official invitation to the Congress.

Earlier, Syrian opposition groups said they would attend the UN-sponsored Vienna talks next Thursday and Friday. The talks are part of the Geneva negotiations and will this time around be held in the Austrian capital.

The Vienna meeting will constitute a test for Moscow to text its authorities on Damascus and its capacity to achieve a “constitutional breakthrough” ahead of the Sochi meeting.



Planes from Jordan and UAE Airdrop Humanitarian Aid into Gaza

28 July 2025, Palestinian Territories, Deir al-Balah: Humanitarian aid supplies are airdropped by military cargo planes over the western part of Deir al-Balah. (dpa)
28 July 2025, Palestinian Territories, Deir al-Balah: Humanitarian aid supplies are airdropped by military cargo planes over the western part of Deir al-Balah. (dpa)
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Planes from Jordan and UAE Airdrop Humanitarian Aid into Gaza

28 July 2025, Palestinian Territories, Deir al-Balah: Humanitarian aid supplies are airdropped by military cargo planes over the western part of Deir al-Balah. (dpa)
28 July 2025, Palestinian Territories, Deir al-Balah: Humanitarian aid supplies are airdropped by military cargo planes over the western part of Deir al-Balah. (dpa)

Two planes from the Jordanian and UAE Air Force airdropped 17 tons of humanitarian aid in Gaza on Monday, Jordan's military said.

The aid packages come as hunger continues to soar across the enclave.

The airdrops took place for the second day as Israel faces increasing pressure over Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. However, Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, warned that airdrops are “expensive, inefficient and can even kill starving civilians.”

The 17 tons of airdropped aid amounts to less than one aid truck carrying food, based on the World Food Program’s calculation of nearly 19 tons per truck.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Monday that Germany intends to conduct an airlift of humanitarian aid to Gaza along with Jordan. 

Merz didn’t provide details of the plan after a meeting of his security Cabinet, but said his defense minister will consult with France and Britain, “which are also prepared to make available such an airlift for food and medical goods.” Jordan’s King Abdullah II is due to meet Merz in Berlin on Tuesday. 

Merz said Israel’s move to lift some aid restrictions is “an important first step” but “further ones must follow quickly.” He also stressed the need for a comprehensive ceasefire. 

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that Spain will airdrop 12 tons of food aid into Gaza from Jordan later this week, via Spanish air force planes. 

Sanchez acknowledged this isn’t a solution to hunger, but hopes it offers “minimal relief” alongside aid from other nations. 

Spain’s government has been a vocal critic of Israel’s war in Gaza and has repeatedly called for a ceasefire. 

On Sunday, 180 trucks carrying aid entered Gaza, according to the Israeli military body in charge of overseeing humanitarian aid.

As the death toll from two years of war in Gaza nears 60,000, a growing number of people are dying from starvation and malnutrition, Gaza health authorities say, with images of starving children shocking the world and fueling international criticism of Israel over sharply worsening conditions.

On Monday, the Gaza health ministry said at least 14 people had died in the past 24 hours of starvation and malnutrition, bringing the war's death toll from hunger to 147, including 88 children, most in just the last few weeks.