Ilham Ahmed to Asharq Al-Awsat: Giving Legitimacy to Syrian Regime Will Not Yield Political Solution

A general view shows a damaged mosque in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake, in opposition-held al-Maland village, in Idlib province, Syria February 24, 2023. (Reuters)
A general view shows a damaged mosque in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake, in opposition-held al-Maland village, in Idlib province, Syria February 24, 2023. (Reuters)
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Ilham Ahmed to Asharq Al-Awsat: Giving Legitimacy to Syrian Regime Will Not Yield Political Solution

A general view shows a damaged mosque in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake, in opposition-held al-Maland village, in Idlib province, Syria February 24, 2023. (Reuters)
A general view shows a damaged mosque in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake, in opposition-held al-Maland village, in Idlib province, Syria February 24, 2023. (Reuters)

Head of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) Ilham Ahmed said cooperating with the Damascus regime “unconditionally” will only grant it some form of legitimacy and will not lead to a political solution to the Syrian conflict.

Her remarks reflect the SDC’s opposition to Arab and regional efforts to normalize ties with the regime, most notably in wake of the disaster caused by the devastating earthquake that struck Syria and neighboring Türkiye on February 6.

The SDC is the political arm of the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that controls northeastern Syria.

In an interview to Asharq Al-Awsat, Ahmed revealed that American officials assured the Kurds that the recent sanctions waivers on Syria do not go against the Ceasar Act. The sanctions were eased to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the victims of the earthquake.

Asked about her position about Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's recent trip to Oman, his second in a decade since the eruption of the Syrian conflict, she replied: “I don’t believe such visits will lead to a political solution in Syria.”

She explained that the unconditional approach to the regime will only grant it legitimacy and not yield political solutions.

“The regime has not changed a fraction of its policies,” she stressed. “These visits will not serve the Syrian people.”

“The delivery of international and Arab humanitarian aid should be monitored by international observers and distributed fairly to all citizens who were affected by the earthquake no matter where they are,” she urged.

The SDC has held a number of official meetings with Arab figures. Ahmed said the SDC underscored to the officials “the need to present an Arab project to resolve the Syrian crisis, for Türkiye to pull out from northwestern Syria and for Iran to cease its flagrant military interference.”

“We also urged the Arab League to draft a roadmap for a political solution and play its role in putting a stop to the war, ending the suffering of the people and resolving pending disputes between the Syrians themselves,” she stated.

Türkiye has meanwhile expressed its willingness to normalize relations with Damascus. Turkish officials have held official meetings with regime figures to that end. “How do you assess the role of the opposition Syrian coalition towards these meetings?” asked Asharq Al-Awsat.

“Unfortunately, the coalition statements have always supported Türkiye, including its stance on normalization,” replied Ahmed. However, she noted the opposition of the people in regions held by the pro-Ankara factions that had staged protests to express their rejection of normalization between the regime and Türkiye.

“This was a message to the forces that control these areas. Our hand is extended to hold dialogue with the parties that staged these protests,” she added.

On the United States’ easing of sanctions on the regime to facilitate aid delivery after the earthquake, Ahmed revealed that the SDC had contacted American envoys present in northeastern Syria. They were assured that these waivers had humanitarian aims and did not violate the Ceasar Act.

Turning to Russia’s role in mediating between the Kurds and Damascus, Ahmed said these efforts have not yielded results as everyone knows that the Russians support the regime.

Moscow, she explained, supports a political solution that “tightens the grip of the regime on all of Syrian territories.”

“We did not sense any neutral position from the Russians towards the conflict during our meetings with them.” They are more aligned to the regime, which contradicts with their role of mediator, she stated. “This was the main reason why we could not reach the desired result with them.”

Asked if the regime has changed any of its behavior in wake of these efforts, Ahmed responded: “The ruling regime has not changed its stance, not on the humanitarian or political levels.”

“It has not shown any flexibility towards the Syrians who are at odds with it. It rejected channels of communication to address the aftermath of the earthquake and ensuing humanitarian catastrophe,” she noted.

“All Syrians, the regime and opposition alike, must handle this catastrophe from the humanitarian angle alone. They must set aside political disputes,” she demanded.

“Any Syrian, who sincerely has their country’s interests at heart, can set aside political disputes and move towards the comprehensive solution,” she said. “The regime’s exploitation of this humanitarian disaster to strengthen its position at the expense of the pain of the Syrian people is a catastrophe in itself.”

Asked if the earthquake may lead to change in Syria, Ahmed noted that several examples throughout history have shown that natural disasters lead to shifts in ruling regimes, the formation of national governments and a change in policies.

“This has not happened in Syria. I see no positive indications that the situation will change in this divided country, given the ongoing disputes between the warring parties and regional and international agendas that have imposed themselves on the country,” lamented Ahmed.

“They are the main obstacle in unifying the Syrian vision,” she stated. “Moreover, the rejection of aid provided by the Kurdish autonomous administration and its political council is the greatest evidence that the situation in this country will not change.”

She accused the regime of politicizing the earthquake disaster and “imposing itself on the international community as the point through which humanitarian aid can be delivered.” The regime has effectively “monopolized” how the aid is delivered. These are all signs of its weakness.

She revealed that the United Nations has sent aid to regime-held regions, but they ended up stuck in Damascus for days. Furthermore, the regime took a week to declare that the cities of Jabla and Aleppo were disaster zones, when the people there were pleading for aid.

The international community dealt with the regime as if it were the only legitimate authority and side responsible for the Syrians. This was the greatest error committed by the international community and UN agencies during the quake disaster, said Ahmed.



Russian Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Mining Concessions Dependent on Ukraine Talks Progress

Alexander Ionov, a member of Russia’s Human Rights Council under President Vladimir Putin (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Alexander Ionov, a member of Russia’s Human Rights Council under President Vladimir Putin (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Russian Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Mining Concessions Dependent on Ukraine Talks Progress

Alexander Ionov, a member of Russia’s Human Rights Council under President Vladimir Putin (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Alexander Ionov, a member of Russia’s Human Rights Council under President Vladimir Putin (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Amid statements made by US President Donald Trump regarding the future of agreements brokered by Riyadh over the Russia-Ukraine crisis, a Russian official has expressed Moscow's readiness to make concessions on certain raw materials and mining activities under US negotiation.

However, the official linked these concessions to the outcomes of talks in Riyadh.

Alexander Ionov, a member of Russia’s Human Rights Council under President Vladimir Putin, revealed that the Russian side supports establishing relations with the US.

According to Ionov, Russia is willing to make concessions on certain raw materials and mining activities, but everything depends on the negotiations concerning Ukraine.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Ionov pointed out that if progress is made in US-Russia understandings on Ukraine, and results are seen regarding the lifting of sanctions, that could potentially be the key to establishing normal, positive relations.

However, so far, Trump’s rhetoric remains purely political, with no concrete steps taken.

Regarding the potential inclusion of European Union countries in Ukraine-related negotiations at some stage, Ionov said that the negotiations are progressing, but the Ukrainian side is seeking to garner European support and set its own terms, which conflict with the views of both Russia and the US.

The White House is frustrated with Kyiv’s rhetoric, and Trump’s team is exerting significant pressure.

Ionov continued to say that everyone is waiting for the Black Sea agreement, reached by the Russian and US delegations, to come into effect.

However, it’s clear that this deal will only be effective after a ceasefire. In the meantime, Kyiv is losing territory, while Russia has liberated the Kursk region.

According to Ionov, European countries are eager to join the negotiation process, but for obvious reasons, they cannot be full participants. They support the Ukrainian scenario of autonomy, which means maintaining Ukraine’s territory as it stood in 1991.

He pointed out that leaders from many countries, especially France and the UK, have called for NATO peacekeeping forces to be deployed in Ukraine.

This is unacceptable to Russia, affirmed Ionov.

In general, we see an aggressive stance from European leaders who are willing to continue investing in this direction.

Ionov believes that US President Donald Trump wants to expedite the signing of a peace agreement on the Ukraine conflict, as he sees it as part of his election campaign.

However, the EU and Ukraine are slowing down the process, coupled with significant tensions in negotiations between the US and Russian delegations, with little progress made.

On the effectiveness of sanctions imposed on Russia, Ionov argued that Trump should find the real culprit in this whole matter, rather than threaten to impose restrictions on Russian oil.

In general, this will not have much impact on Russia’s economy, as the main consumers of Russian raw materials are not in the West, but in the East, confirmed Ionov.

Additionally, Russia has much greater influence over OPEC than the US. Saudi Arabia is actively cooperating with Russia and Venezuela on the oil market, and the US can do little about it at this point.

In reality, the Russian side supports building relations with the US, and it is willing to make concessions on certain raw materials and mining activities. But everything depends on the negotiations concerning Ukraine.

As for Saudi- Russian relations, Ionov reaffirmed that Russia engages with the Saudi people with warmth and kindness. Much work is being done at the official level, as Saudi Arabia is a key partner for Russia in the Middle East, he added.

Russian-Saudi cooperation shows a shared effort in developing the regional security framework, as well as advancing projects in humanitarian cooperation.

Ionov hoped the Kingdom will continue its efforts in developing joint energy projects with Russia and will participate in the BRICS alliance.