International Ministers Confer in Akaba Confirm Syria’s Sovereignty After Assad’s Overthrow
The participants of the international ministerial conference in Akaba have confirmed Syria’s sovereignty after the Assad regime’s overthrow. According to a statement, signed by Germany and others, and released by the Foreign Office in the afternoon, they are “convinced that the political transition process must take place under Syrian leadership and self-responsibility.”
In this process, a “transparent procedure based on the principles contained in UN Security Council Resolution 2254 must be followed to form a representative government that does not favor any particular group and includes all” the statement said.
At the same time, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is requested to “strengthen the UN’s presence on the ground” and the “unrestricted support for the unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of Syria” is confirmed.
However, the respect for human rights, including the rights of women and minorities, and the preservation of state institutions that serve the interests of the Syrian people and provide essential public services must be ensured.
Syria must also live in peace with its neighbors and grant “unrestricted access” to humanitarian aid organizations. Internally displaced persons and returnees must be able to move freely, foreign diplomatic missions must be protected, and all chemical weapons stockpiles must be destroyed.
The access to regime prisons to hold those responsible accountable and to clarify the fates of missing Syrians and foreign nationals must also be possible, the conference participants emphasized.
The upcoming phase will be the “acid test for the adherence to the above-mentioned principles” the statement said. The adherence to these principles has a “substantial importance” in determining their further actions, as written in the statement.
In addition, the “fight against terrorism and extremism, including the prevention of the resurgence of any terrorist groups” is of great importance. No threat should emanate from Syrian territory, and it should not be a haven for terrorists.