Senior diplomats from eight Arab nations convened in Aqaba, Jordan, on Saturday, 14 December after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime at the hands of Syrian rebels. The meeting’s final statement highlighted the need for a peaceful transition of power in Syria, facilitated by the United Nations and the Arab League.
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi welcomed the final statement issued by Arab diplomats in Aqaba and commended the Arab initiative’s role in promoting stability in Syria.
Abdi posted on his account on X, formerly Twitter, writing: “We welcome the final statement of the Aqaba Summit by the Arab Ministerial Contact Group on Syria and commend the vital role of Arab nations in steering Syria toward safety.”
On the importance of halting military operations in Syria, he said: “We stress the need to cease military operations across all Syrian territory, as outlined in the final statement. This is a fundamental step to paving the way for meaningful dialogue that can lead to the establishment of a new Syria.”
He concluded: “The stability of Syria will begin with the participation of all parties and the preservation of its territorial integrity, paving the way for a sustainable peace.”
In the final statement, the foreign ministers of the eight Arab countries expressed their support for a transitional government to be appointed by the Syrians, capable of establishing a political system through free and fair elections under United Nations supervision, while respecting the wishes of all strata of the Syrian people. They also cautioned against “any ethnic, sectarian or religious discrimination” and called for “justice and equality for all citizens”.
Furthermore, the ministers stressed the importance of preserving government institutions to prevent Syria from “descending into chaos” and urged the strengthening of “joint efforts to combat terrorism, as it poses a grave threat to Syria, regional stability and global security”.
In recent days, Mazloum Abdi has consistently stressed the need to prioritise diplomatic efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Syria.
