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HOW to HELP SYRIA RECOVER? Policy Paper 2
HOW TO HELP SYRIA RECOVER? Policy Paper 2 Author: Collective of the “SDGs and Migration“ project This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of Diaconia of the ECCB and can under no cirmustances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union. The document is part of the „SDGs and Migration – Multipliers and Journalists Addressing Decision Makers and Citizens“ project which is realized in the framework of the Development Education and Awareness Raising (DEAR) programme. Graphic design: BOOM s.r.o. Translation: Mánes překlady a tlumočení The following organizations are involved in the “SGDs and Migration” project, managed by Diaconia of ECCB: Global Call to Action Against Poverty (Belgium), Bulgarian Platform for International Development (Bulgaria), Federazione Organismi Cristiani Servizio Internazionale Volontario (Italy), ActionAid Hellas (Greece), Ambrela (Slovakia) and Povod (Slovenia). 1 POLICY PAPER The humanitarian situation in Syria, and its regional and global dimension With the Syrian crisis about to enter its 10th year, the humanitarian situation in Syria and in the neighbouring con- tinues to be critical. Despite the fact that in some areas of Syria the situation has largely stabilized, in Northwest and Northeast Syria there is the potential for a further escalation. There are risks of new displacements and increased humanitarian needs of a population already affected by years of conflict and depletion of resources, as witnessed in recent months as a result of the Operation Peace Spring in the Northeast and the ongoing Gov- ernment of Syria (GoS) and Government of Russia (GoR) offensive in the Northwest. -
Reconstruct- Ing Syria: Risks and Side Effects Strategies, Actors and Interests
ZUSAMMENFASSUNG ADOPT A REVOLUTION RECONSTRUCT- ING SYRIA: RISKS AND SIDE EFFECTS Strategies, actors and interests 1 2 Cover photo: Jan-Niklas Kniewel RECONSTRUCTING SYRIA: RISKS AND SIDE EFFECTS ADOPT A REVOLUTION CONTENT Summary 04 Introduction 06 Dr. Joseph Daher Reconstructing Syria: How the al-Assad regime is 09 capitalizing on destruction Jihad Yazigi Reconstruction or Plunder? How Russia and Iran are 20 dividing Syrian Resources Dr. Salam Said Reconstruction as a foreign policy tool 30 Alhakam Shaar Reconstruction, but for whom? Embracing the role of Aleppo’s 34 displaced Dispossessed and deprived: 39 Three case studies of Syrians affected by the Syrian land and property rights 03 SUMMARY RECONSTRUCTING SYRIA: RISKS AND SIDE EFFECTS SUMMARY 1 The reconstruction plans of the al-Assad regime largely ignore the needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees. The regime’s reconstruction strategy does not address the most pressing needs of over 10 million Syrian IDPs and refugees. Instead it caters mostly to the economic interests of the regime itself and its allies. 2 Current Syrian legislation obstructs the return of IDPs and refugees, and legalizes the deprivation of rights of residents of informal settlements. A series of tailor-made laws have made it legal to deprive inhabitants of informal settlements of their rights. This includes the restriction of housing, land and property rights through Decree 66, Law No. 10, the restriction of basic rights under the counterterrorism law, and the legal bases for public-private co-investments. These laws also serve the interests of regime cronies and regime-loyal forces. The process of demographic engineering in former opposition-held territories, which has already begun, driven by campaigns of forced displacement and the evictions of original residents, is being cemented by these laws. -
Us Policy Toward Syria
U.S. POLICY TOWARD SYRIA (PART II) HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION NOVEMBER 29, 2018 Serial No. 115–175 Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Affairs ( Available: http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/, http://docs.house.gov, or http://www.govinfo.gov U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 33–366PDF WASHINGTON : 2018 VerDate 0ct 09 2002 18:15 Dec 20, 2018 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 Z:\WORK\_MENA\112918\33366 SHIRL COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS EDWARD R. ROYCE, California, Chairman CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida BRAD SHERMAN, California DANA ROHRABACHER, California GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York STEVE CHABOT, Ohio ALBIO SIRES, New Jersey JOE WILSON, South Carolina GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia MICHAEL T. MCCAUL, Texas THEODORE E. DEUTCH, Florida TED POE, Texas KAREN BASS, California DARRELL E. ISSA, California WILLIAM R. KEATING, Massachusetts TOM MARINO, Pennsylvania DAVID N. CICILLINE, Rhode Island MO BROOKS, Alabama AMI BERA, California PAUL COOK, California LOIS FRANKEL, Florida SCOTT PERRY, Pennsylvania TULSI GABBARD, Hawaii MARK MEADOWS, North Carolina JOAQUIN CASTRO, Texas TED S. YOHO, Florida ROBIN L. KELLY, Illinois ADAM KINZINGER, Illinois BRENDAN F. BOYLE, Pennsylvania LEE M. ZELDIN, New York DINA TITUS, Nevada DANIEL M. DONOVAN, JR., New York NORMA J. TORRES, California F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER, JR., BRADLEY SCOTT SCHNEIDER, Illinois Wisconsin THOMAS R. SUOZZI, New York ANN WAGNER, Missouri ADRIANO ESPAILLAT, New York BRIAN J. MAST, Florida TED LIEU, California FRANCIS ROONEY, Florida BRIAN K. -
De-Escalation Zones in Syria
June 2020 Syria / Iraq Office De-escalation zones in Syria Background and status quo of a paradox Gregor Jaecke, David Labude In May 2017, as part of the Astana peace talks, Russia, Iran and Turkey agreed on the establishment of four so-called de-escalation zones in Syria. These zones were designed to be areas in which all hostilities should cease and in which civilians should be protected from attacks. The deal had been preceded by a massive deployment of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime, followed by increasing international pressure on Syria and its ally Russia. Three of these safe zones no longer exist today. The last one that remains, in Idlib, is under heavy pressure after severe recent fighting. In actual fact, the protection for the Syrian population that had been promised when the zones had been created was not provided by this agreement at any time. The establishment of these zones did not contribute to the peace process in Syria and, therefore, to ending the war. It is worthwhile, however, to take a closer look at how this agreement was reached and how the four zones have developed in order to identify the failures of the various international actors. These failures could defeat hopes for finding a solution for the plight of the Syrian refugees for decades. Resolving this issue will crucially depend on whether Europe and the United States (US) will become more engaged in Syria in the future and whether they will be more successful in exerting political and economic pressure on the regime and its allies – mainly Russia. -
P13:Layout 1
Friday 13 International Friday, November 30, 2018 After killing, defiant Syria town march on Syrians in Kafranbel keep the revolutionary spirit alive KAFRANBEL: Gunmen may have killed their bel was rocked by fighting between regime most charismatic activist, but Syrians in Kafran- fighters and defectors from Assad’s army, soon bel are determined to keep the northwestern slipping out of the government’s control. “I have town’s revolutionary spirit alive. The gunning a dream. Let freedom ring from Kafranbel,” said down of Raed Fares on Friday was the latest one sign that year in English, playing on the blow to what remains of the dwindling civil so- town’s name and echoing the words of Martin ciety movement that rose up against President Luther King. Another poster the same year com- Bashar Al-Assad in 2011. plained of congested skies. “We demand a po- “We lost Raed Fares but he represented an liceman be appointed to regulate war plane idea that will not die,” 26-year-old activist Ab- traffic,” it said in Arabic, signed “Liberated dallah Al-Dani said, standing in front of a wall of Kafranbel”. At Christmas approached, Kafranbel graffiti calling for freedom. Seven years into a sent a message to the pope. “Merry Christmas brutal civil war, Kafranbel lies in the last major from Syria, the land where Assad killed Santa rebel bastion in the country, and is controlled by Claus,” it said in bold black Roman letters. By a powerful alliance led by former Al-Qaeda ji- 2015, Kafranbel was part of a large region under hadists. -
Idlib and Its Environs Narrowing Prospects for a Rebel Holdout REUTERS/KHALIL ASHAWI REUTERS/KHALIL
THE WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY ■ FEBRUARY 2020 ■ PN75 Idlib and Its Environs Narrowing Prospects for a Rebel Holdout REUTERS/KHALIL ASHAWI REUTERS/KHALIL By Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi Greater Idlib and its immediate surroundings in northwest Syria—consisting of rural northern Latakia, north- western Hama, and western Aleppo—stand out as the last segment of the country held by independent groups. These groups are primarily jihadist, Islamist, and Salafi in orientation. Other areas have returned to Syrian government control, are held by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), or are held by insurgent groups that are entirely constrained by their foreign backers; that is, these backers effectively make decisions for the insurgents. As for insurgents in this third category, the two zones of particular interest are (1) the al-Tanf pocket, held by the U.S.-backed Jaish Maghaweer al-Thawra, and (2) the areas along the northern border with Turkey, from Afrin in the west to Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ain in the east, controlled by “Syrian © 2020 THE WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. AYMENN JAWAD AL-TAMIMI National Army” (SNA) factions that are backed by in Idlib province that remained outside insurgent control Turkey and cannot act without its approval. were the isolated Shia villages of al-Fua and Kafarya, This paper considers the development of Idlib and whose local fighters were bolstered by a small presence its environs into Syria’s last independent center for insur- of Lebanese Hezbollah personnel serving in a training gents, beginning with the province’s near-full takeover by and advisory capacity.3 the Jaish al-Fatah alliance in spring 2015 and concluding Charles Lister has pointed out that the insurgent suc- at the end of 2019, by which time Jaish al-Fatah had cesses in Idlib involved coordination among the various long ceased to exist and the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir rebel factions in the northwest. -
Der Schmutzige Krieg Gegen Syrien
Tim Anderson Der schmutzige Krieg gegen Syrien Washington, Regime Change und Widerstand Ist die Katastrophe in Syrien das Ergebnis von unglückseligen Zufäl len? Sind Krieg und Chaos im Nahen Osten Folge mißglückter Befrie dungsversuche? Der Politikwissenschaftler Tim Anderson belegt auf der Grundlage akribischer Recherchen: der Krieg in Syrien ist Teil ei nes geostrategischen Plans der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika, um die Region nach ihren Interessen neu zu ordnen. Gesellschaftliche Aus einandersetzungen und Modernisierungsprobleme wurden zum Anlaß genommen, durch Provokateure Nationalstaaten zu destabilisieren. Pseudo-islamische Terrormilizen zerstören gezielt die Infrastruktur Sy riens. Dirigiert und finanziert werden jene Söldnertruppen von rivali sierenden Anrainerstaaten wie Saudi-Arabien oder Katar. Sie begehen kriminelle Terrorakte, um diese sodann der syrischen Regierung zuzu schreiben. Bereitwillig wirken liberale westliche Medien, Nichtregie rungsorganisationen und Politiker mit bei den ›false-flag‹-Manövern, um den syrischen Präsidenten und die syrischen Streitkräfte als Mons ter zu entmenschlichen. Doch Anderson macht Hoffnung: es hat sich eine neue ›Achse des Widerstands‹ in der Region herausgebildet, die eine selbstbestimmte Zukunft der Völker im Mittleren und Nahen Os ten ermöglichen wird. Da Anderson sich vornehmlich auf anerkannte westliche Quellen aus Presse, Denkfabriken und Wissenschaft beruft, und einen üppigen Quellenanhang an jedes Kapitel anfügt, stellt DER SCHMUTZIGE KRIEG GEGEN SYRIEN eine erstklassige -
PREVENTING the FALL of ALEPPO a Strategic Analysis of Regime Barrel Bombings and ISIS Influence in Aleppo Province
PREVENTING THE FALL OF ALEPPO A Strategic Analysis of Regime Barrel Bombings and ISIS Influence in Aleppo Province. URGENT ACTION is needed to prevent the ascendancy of both the Assad regime and ISIS in Syria’s most populous province. Mohammad Alaa Ghanem and Shlomo Bolts www.sacouncil.com February 2014 About the Authors Mohammed Alaa Ghanem is the Senior Political Adviser, Government Relations Director, and Strategist for the Syrian American Council in Washington D.C. He holds a master’s degree in Peacebuilding and conflict transformation. Ghanem was a professor at the University of Damascus, and has been involved in the Syrian revolution since its early days a peaceful protest movement. He has briefed U.S. government officials and policy makers in the executive branch and in Congress. His work and scholarship connect U.S. policy-makers and the Syrian American community with the revolution inside Syria. This connection is made possible by his extensive network of contacts at all levels of the Syrian opposition, his frequent trips to the ‘liberated areas’ in Syria, and his routine participation in international political and academic conferences on Syria. Applying his knowledge of American politics and international relations, he advises the local administrative councils emerging in liberated areas across Syria on foreign relations. In early 2013, he participated in monitoring the elections of the first democratically elected government in Aleppo. Ghanem is also a fellow with the Syrian Center for Political and Strategic Studies. At SCPSS, he has been in involved in SCPSS’ Syria Transition Roadmap, an ambitious post- Assad transition project. Ghanem is frequently quoted in the media, and his Op-Eds have appeared in the Washington Post and Foreign Policy MEC. -
Final Report out of Sight, out of Mind: the Aftermath of Syria's Sieges
Final Report Out of Sight, Out of Mind: The Aftermath of Syria’s Sieges Colophon ISBN: 978-94-92487-33-9 PAX serial number: PAX/2019/02 About PAX PAX works with committed citizens and partners to protect civilians against acts of war, to end armed violence, and to build just peace. PAX operates independently of political interests. www.paxforpeace.nl / P.O. Box 19318 / 3501 DH Utrecht, The Netherlands / [email protected] This report was written by Valerie Szybala and the PAX team. We deeply thank Siege Watch’s voluntary network of reporting contacts who communicated with the project team over the years, for your openness, generosity and patience. We have been inspired and humbled by your strength through adversity, and will continue to support your search for justice and peace. Siege Watch Final Report Out of Sight, Out of Mind: The Aftermath of Syria’s Sieges PAX ! Siege Watch - Final Report 3 Table of Contents Foreword 06 Executive summary 08 Introduction 11 Part 1: An Overview of Syria’s Sieges 13 1. Understanding the Sieges 14 Defining Syria’s Sieges 14 The Evolution of the Sieges 15 2. The International Response 22 UN Efforts 22 Designation and Reporting 23 Response to Forced Surrenders 25 UN Humanitarian Aid 26 Multilateral Initiatives 27 Donor Support 29 3. Violations of International Law 30 Humanitarian Access 31 Forced Population Transfers 31 Attacks 32 Detention and Disappearance 34 Post-Surrender Violations 35 Part 2: The Lasting Impacts of Sieges: Needs, Priorities, and Goals 37 4. Meeting Siege Victims’ Needs 38 General Needs 38 Post-Surrender Communities 39 Internally Displaced Persons 42 Refugees 43 5: Reconstruction 46 The Challenge 46 The Response 48 6. -
RECLAIMING HOME the Struggle for Socially Just Housing, Land and Property Rights in Syria,Iraq and Libya
RECLAIMING HOME The struggle for socially just housing, land and property rights in Syria,Iraq and Libya Edited by Hannes Baumann RECLAIMING HOME The struggle for socially just housing, land and property rights in Syria, Iraq and Libya Edited by Hannes Baumann RECLAIMING HOME The struggle for socially just housing, land and property rights in Syria, Iraq and Libya Edited by Hannes Baumann Contributors Leïla Vignal Nour Harastani and Edwar Hanna Suliman Ibrahim Javier Gonzalez Ina Rehema Jahn and Amr Shannan Sangar Youssif Salih and Kayfi Maghdid Qadr Thomas McGee Not for Sale © Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. All rights reserved. No parts of this publication may be printed, reproduced or utilized in any from by any means without prior written permission from the publishers. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are solely those of the original authors. They do not necessarily represent those of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. Cartographic Design: Thiago Soveral Cover Illustration: Moshtari Hillal Graphic Design: Mehdi Jelliti Published in 2019 by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung’s Regional Project «For Socially Just Development in MENA» TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword Thomas Claes ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 05 Introduction Hannes Baumann ........................................................................................................................................................................................ -
Expert Report of David Kaye with Exhibits 1 to 13
Case 1:16-cv-01423-ABJ Document 42-15 Filed 03/22/18 Page 1 of 217 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CATHLEEN COLVIN et al., Civil No. 1:16-cv-01423 (ABJ) Plaintiffs, v. SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC, Defendant. EXPERT REPORT OF DAVID KAYE, UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF OPINION AND EXPRESSION Case 1:16-cv-01423-ABJ Document 42-15 Filed 03/22/18 Page 2 of 217 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Contents I. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1 II. QUALIFICATIONS & BASIS FOR OPINION................................................................. 2 A. Qualifications .................................................................................................................. 2 B. Basis for Opinion ............................................................................................................ 5 III. As Part of Its Crackdown Following the 2011 Uprising, the Syrian Government Engaged in a Systematic Pattern and Practice of Violently Persecuting Journalists and Curtailing Freedom of Expression and Opinion .................................................................................. 6 A. Media Crackdown: the Syrian Government’s Anti-Media Rhetoric ............................ 11 B. Media Crackdown: the Syrian Government’s Policy of Censorship and Interference with Media Work ......................................................................................................... -
State Propaganda in Syria from War Crimes to Pipelines
STATE PROPAGANDA IN SYRIA: FROM WAR CRIMES TO PIPELINES IN SYRIA: FROM WAR PROPAGANDA STATE Published by: International State Crime Initiative School of Law Queen Mary University of London State Propaganda in Syria ISBN: 978-0-9934574-8-7 From War Crimes to Pipelines Nafeez Ahmed An INSURGE intelligence investigation School of Law Nafeez Ahmed (CC) Nafeez Ahmed 2018 This publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- NoDerivatives 4.0 International license: you may copy and distribute the document, only in its entirety, as long as it is attributed to the authors and used for non-commercial, educational, or public policy purposes. ISBN: 978-0-9934574-8-7 (Paperback) and 978-0-9934574-9-4 (eBook-PDF) Published with the support of Forum for Change by: International State Crime Initiative School of Law Queen Mary University of London Mile End Road London E1 4NS United Kingdom www.statecrime.org Author: Nafeez Ahmed Recommended citation: Ahmed, N.(2018) State Propaganda in Syria: From War Crimes to Pipelines. London: International State Crime Initiative. Cover image: ‘Return to Homs’, A Syrian refugee walks among severely damaged buildings in downtown Homs, Syria, on June 3, 2014. (Xinhua/Pan Chaoyue) Layout and design: Paul Jacobs, QMUL CopyShop Printing: QMUL CopyShop School of Law From War Crimes to Pipelines ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 5 FOREWORD 7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 11 1. INTRODUCTION 19 2. ESCALATION 23 2.1 OBSTRUCTION 24 2.2 JINGOISM 25 2.3 DUPLICITY 26 3. WHITE HELMETS 29 3.1 CAUGHT IN THE ACT 29 3.2 AID CONVOY CONTROVERSY 32 3.3 CHAIN OF CUSTODY 38 3.4 THE WHITE HELMETS AND PROPAGANDA: QUESTIONS 42 3.5 THE WHITE HELMETS AND PROPAGANDA: MYTHS 46 4.