Asharq Al-Awsat Interview: Fawaz al-Nasser

Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat – Fawaz al-Nasser represents the Kurdish bloc in the Syrian Revolution’s Board of Trustees (SRBT), the establishment of which was announced in Cairo at the beginning of this month. The SRBT, chaired by Haytham al-Maleh, immediately announced its intention to form a transitional government in Syria, but the board has received criticism from the Syrian National Council (SNC), which contends that its powers are being infringed upon. Observers believe this could lead to a rift amongst the Syrian opposition.

Fawaz al-Nasser recently spoke to Asharq al-Awsat to provide his assessment of the current situation in Syria. He asserted that the al-Assad regime will only fall in a military fashion, and criticized the continuous Iranian and Russian support for the Syrian President. He also elaborated on the gains made on the ground by the Syrian rebels, and the territories that are currently outside the regime’s control. Finally, al-Nasser touched upon the establishment of the SRBT and its controversial proposals to form a government.

The following is the text from the interview:

[Asharq Al-Awsat] An Islamic summit will be held in Mecca in few days’ time.  What is required from it in order to ensure solidarity with the Syrian people?

[Al-Nasser] We call upon the Islamic summit to develop a united Islamic, humanitarian, and Arab stand because what has happened in Syria is unprecedented in any Arab country, and also to help the Syrian people displaced on the borders.  At the political level, we believe that al-Assad’s regime has lost legitimacy with regards to the entire world apart from two countries, Iran and Russia.  These two countries are complicit in the killing of the Syrian people.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Are you expecting al-Assad’s downfall to be resolved through a political solution or a military one?

[Al-Nasser] The Syrian regime does not understand the language of politics.  The opposition has been demanding a political solution for one year and seven months, and therefore there is no other option than a military solution.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Do you not believe that a military solution might affect peace and security in the entire region, not only Syria, and that al-Assad might use a scorched earth policy to confront the Free Syrian Army (FSA)?

[Al-Nasser] Al-Assad has already used the scorched earth policy.  Many brothers are telling us that “bombs are falling with smoke emanating out in different colors, which might be chemical substances”.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Where is the regime using the bombs you are talking about?

[Al-Nasser] In several areas, including Idlib.  The coordination committees have reported yellow smoke coming out of some of the bombs that have fallen.  Even doctors have complained and said “these are not the effects of ordinary bombs”.  Let us give another example, namely that al-Assad’s forces are deploying their military vehicles at a distance of 5 kilometers from cities, and then shelling them without identifying targets.  Is this not a scorched earth policy?

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Can Aleppo be the catalyst that sparks the liberation of the remaining Syrian territories?

[Al-Nasser] Starting from Aleppo is an important strategic factor.  Moreover, it can be said that 60 percent of Syria’s territories are now free from al-Assad’s regime, particularly at night.  Half of Aleppo is almost liberated and it is known that the city extends along Turkish borders; therefore it would be a safe area if it and Idlib were completely liberated.  Then we could say that the revolutionaries have created with their own hands the safe areas they demanded from the Security Council more than a year ago.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] What is your opinion of Iran’s statements that the downfall of the al-Assad regime is a delusion, and that it would have ramifications that would drag the region towards war?

[Al-Nasser] When the regime in Iran talks about al-Sham [Syria], it is as if it is talking about Kermanshah Province in Iran, as if there is no difference between them.  Yet Iran has been a partner in the killings from the beginning.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Russia is reiterating a similar message and claims that what is happening in Syria is terrorism.  How do you see this?

[Al-Nasser] Is it conceivable that an entire population can be labeled as terrorists and proponents of terrorism?  Is it conceivable that the FSA and military elements defecting daily from the regular army are terrorists, when those who have defected have seen how people from all ages are being killed every day?  How their villages were being shelled?  Is it conceivable that Syria, which has not known terrorism for more than 7,000 years, has today become a terrorist state?

[Asharq Al-Awsat] How do you view Israel’s stance on the al-Assad’s regime?  Are you expecting a conflict between the two sides?

[Al-Nasser] The Syrian regime will not fight Israel at all.  It is known that Israel has defended al-Assad’s regime throughout the past era, as evidenced by the words of one of the regime’s key pillars, Rami Maklouf, who stated very clearly “If there is no stability here, there’s no way there will be stability in Israel.”  If the al-Assad regime fell militarily, Syria would go on to deal with neighboring countries in accordance with international laws while upholding mutual interests.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Do you think there will be a delay in finding a replacement for al-Assad, and is it important that they are not a member of the Alawite sect?

[Al-Nasser] I do not think so.  The Alawites are our brothers and they have suffered much from the al-Assad regime, perhaps even more injustice than the Sunnis and Arabs.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Has the Alawite community stood in solidarity with the revolution?

[Al-Nasser] A large number of officers and soldiers who have defected are Alawites, but the regime has barricaded this community and informed them that its downfall will be their loss.  This is not true because the Alawite community would enjoy a far better status than they have during the al-Assad phase, as would the “Baathists” because Baathism these days is just a title to obtain a job or a position in the regime.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] The SNC and several opposition political forces were surprised by the announcement that the SRBT has been established.  Were preparations conducted in secret without coordination?

[Al-Nasser] The announcement of the board’s establishment was a surprise but the issue has been lingering for three months because the SNC failed in the main tasks it was entrusted with: providing relief, armaments and buffer zones for the rebels.  It also failed to mobilize the international community.  All these are the priorities and immediate demands of the Syrian people, and without them the SNC’s existence is meaningless a year and a half after its establishment.  It had many chances but did not take any of them.  We still have Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey, and the Syrian people are still being subjected to brutal killings and destruction.  The SNC was content only with holding meetings here and there, all of which were mere ink on paper.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Why did you choose this particular time to declare the SRBT’s establishment, and to seek to form a government?

[Al-Nasser] Internal pressure demanded quick action because the issues I mentioned previously require immediate measures to support the Syrian people and achieve their legitimate demands.  The European countries had also started to lose confidence with the SNC and demanded the formation of a provisional government.  We decided to think about forming a government.  The SRBT includes figures from the coordination committees and the FSA.  Two military elements took part in the preparatory meetings with us, one of them a colonel and the second a brigadier general.  They confirmed to us that the battle was nearing its end, yet the opposition had not arranged anything for the post-Assad stage and the SNC had not acted.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Did the SNC chairman know of the intention to establish the SRBT?

[Al-Nasser] [Current SNC Chairman] Abdul Basit Sida and former SNC Chairman Burhan Ghalyun are aware that the Syrian street is seething and demanding immediate measures commensurate with the size of the regime’s brutality against the Syrian people.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Why was Sida not invited to these meetings?

[Al-Nasser] At the meeting of the opposition in Cairo one month ago, the SNC refused to establish a follow-up committee and a mechanism for implementing decisions.  They considered this the role of the SNC Chairman but we say since you are incapable of doing anything then give others a chance.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Do you not believe that objection to the SRBT will disrupt the opposition’s achievement of any of the Syrian people’s demands at this critical stage?

[Al-Nasser] The SRBT includes all the internal revolutionary forces, the coordination committees from abroad, and the FSA. Our brothers in the SNC criticized and fought the FSA, its armament, and foreign intervention.  All steps taken by the SNC ultimately came too late.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Will the SNC members and all opposition symbols be invited to join the SRBT?

[Al-Nasser] The door is open for anyone to join.  What distinguishes the SRBT is that it does not include parties, and all members are nationalist elements that do not seek any gain other than to meet the needs of the street.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Were some names nominated for the transitional government during the meetings?

[Al-Nasser] No names have been nominated so far.  But in general, all those present are nationalist figures who are fit to lead the stage and overcome its dangers.

[Asharq Al-Awsat] Are there criteria and controls for choosing the prime minister and members of parliament?

[Al-Nasser] We agreed that the government must represent all Syrian components and that its primary aim should be to meet the needs of the Syrian people.