The major nations behind the UN push to get peace talks going to end the Syrian Civil War are not just trying to get everybody to the negotiating table, as diplomats say they are also working on an agreement to impose a federal system on Syria as a way of helping to resolve the war.
Both Russia and the US, along with other Western nations, are said to be on board with the idea. Russia has favored federalism as a way to nominally maintain nations’ territorial integrity while allowing more regional autonomy, and the Syria plan is said to eye dramatically weakening the central government in favor of local powers.
At some point they’re bound to run this idea by the Syrians, however, and while the US and Russia seem keen to simply impose a solution on Syria it’s not clear how much Syrian support they’ll have. Rebels have already made clear they oppose any effort to weaken the central government they believe they’ll eventually be installed in control of, and while the Assad government hasn’t ruled out federalism, they want it to be the result of a referendum and internal negotiation, not just something the US and Russia decided.
The only group that seems keen on the idea is the Kurdish YPG, which seems keen to have its own authority over the nation’s northeast cemented in the post-war situation.
“Both Russia and the US, along with other Western nations, are said to be on board with the idea. ”
Until I hear that from Putin or Lavrov I will regard it as western propaganda/BS. As for the source, Reuters, they have mis-spoken quite a lot recently.
Something like this system works in Spain, Italy, and Switzerland.
The question is not whether it can work, but whether anyone is really pursuing it in good faith. Is it really just a way to break up a state?
This shows the true objectives of the west that have not changed since well before WWI.Their continuous plot to break up and weaken all Muslim and Arab nations into weak ,fragmented entities depopulated and continuously fighting each other while their enemies get stronger and control them.Once again,the west imposes its will on the people in the region while hypocritically claiming to uphold lofty ideals and values.
The break-up of the British Mandate of Palestine has worked well? If in doubt try again?
There is not the slightest doubt that wars will eventually break out between the constituents of a “federal” Syria.
I’m sure the rouge state of Israel would love to see settlements stretching from the Golan Heights to Damascus.