DAMASCUS, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- Ridding Syria of the Islamic State (IS)militants should be the only aim of the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition in order for Damascus to build trust with the West, which should then help in reaching a political solution to end the years-long crunching crisis.
Hidden agendas and double standards, if any, would further inflame the conflict in the region, not only in Syria.
Despite the current unity in purpose, mistrust is still the main characteristic that defines the current relationship between Washington -- along with its allies -- and Damascus.
For now, Washington, which has emerged as an outspoken critic of President Bashar al-Assad and further demands his ouster, finds itself fighting the same exact enemy of the Syrian state, but has no qualms in battling the IS on Syrian soil without cooperation with the Damascus administration.
But Damascus, on the other hand, has viewed the recently reached international consensus on fighting the rampant and snowballing terrorist movement of the IS, which Syria has been warning of since the first year of the crisis, as a positive change in international climate toward the Syrian crisis.
Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi has regarded it as a "political victory" for Syria.
At the 69th session of the UN General Assembly on Monday, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem reaffirmed that Syria supports any international effort to combat terrorism as long as it fully preserves civilians' lives and national sovereignty and is carried out according to international accords.
"Is it not due time for all of us to stand as one in the face of this serious menace of terrorist Takfiri ideology worldwide? Has not the moment of truth arrived for us all to admit that IS, Al-Nusrah Front and the rest of the Al-Qaida affiliates will not be limited within the borders of Syria and Iraq, but will spread to every spot it can reach, starting with Europe and America?" he stressed.
Al-Moallem's remarks are a clear sign that Syria is reaching out for cooperation and coordination in order to make the military strikes against the IS a success, something that should be taken into account by the United States.
Washington is placing its bets on "vetted" and "moderate" rebels instead of joining with the government troops on the ground, with which it shares the same exact goal for now.
Fighting a common enemy has put both parties on the same boat even if they are still reluctant to trust each other just yet. But possible victory is going to break the ice between them and any ensuing international efforts to bring about a political end to the Syrian crisis may build upthe momentum.
|
