A damaged photograph of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad is being viewed by people. Photo: Reuters
Syria's challenges are far from over, with extremism and terrorism still posing significant threats, according to Anwar Gargash, the UAE's diplomatic adviser to the President, who spoke on Sunday. Gargash, addressing the Manama Security Dialogue in Bahrain, attributed Bashar Al Assad's decline to political failures and noted that Assad had not capitalized on the support extended to him by various Arab nations, including the UAE. "There was a substantial failure, partly due to political and policy missteps, because Assad did not effectively utilize the lifeline provided by several Arab countries, including the UAE, to engage in constitutional discussions." Syrian rebels claimed on Sunday that they had overthrown President Bashar Al Assad, ending a 50-year family rule in a swift offensive that sparked concerns about a fresh wave of instability in a war-torn Middle East.
Dr. Gargash emphasized that non-state actors should not be permitted to exploit political voids. "The unfolding events in Syria are a stark reminder of political shortcomings and the destructive impact of conflict and disorder," he stated in the UAE's first official commentary on the issue. He further suggested that Syria should hold free elections to allow the Syrian people to determine their leaders. "The future of Syria must be driven by the Syrians themselves." The senior official called for Syrian unity to prevent chaos. "We hope Syrians will collaborate to avoid another period of impending chaos. We are deeply concerned about extremism and the territorial integrity of Syria," Gargash said, noting that recent developments provide an opportunity to engage with Iran on future steps. "We cannot predict the trajectory of events in Syria. Will it be a more prudent group that can overcome Syria's troubled past, or will we witness a resurgence of radical terrorist organizations taking a dominant role?"
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