(MENAFN- Jordan Times) The ultimate solution to the Syrian conflict does not lie in a "deal" between US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin, or among all the permanent members of the UN Security Council. The one and only solution lies in the hands of the Syrian people.
The Syrians themselves have to decide their future without pressure from any side. If this can be accepted by all stakeholders, the roadmap for the resolution of the violent conflict in Syria can go through several stages.
Stage one would require an immediate halt to all hostility by either side, the return of all forces to their barracks or bases, with their heavy equipment, and the freezing of all other security or police actions.
Second, there should be deployment of a UN peacekeeping force to monitor the cessation of hostilities. Third, a special criminal tribunal for the war crimes, crimes against humanity and sectarian cleansing that were committed in Syria over the past year and a half has to be established. It is unacceptable for the perpetrators of these crimes, including their superiors who may have issued the orders or the powers that supplied military hardware that made these crimes possible, to escape punishment.
Fourth, immediate humanitarian aid has to be sent to the Syrian people affected by the hostilities. Fifth, and this could be the most important step, national elections have to be conducted under the supervision of the UN so that the Syrian people may have a say in how their conflict can be brought to an end.
Last, a Marshall plan for the reconstruction of the country needs to be adopted, to which countries can be expected to contribute.
Even though all these proposed steps are complementary, the fifth, which calls for asking the people for their opinion on who should govern them, is very important.
Syrians must given an opportunity to exercise the right to self determination which is enshrined in international law.
The immediate antagonists in the conflict cannot object to this roadmap. Neither should all the other stakeholders.
All permanent members of the UN Security Council must come on board for this plan and show concern for human rights and that they have the will to combat the commission of crimes against humanity, war crimes or even sectarian cleansing, and want what is best for the Syria.
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