The Gulf War has created a complex situation in the Arab world and the region. This war will have effects and consequences not only on the present but also on the future of Arabs. It is crucial for us to learn from these experiences in order to face the new phase ahead. This war has undermined concepts and values that Arabs hold dear and that are part of their heritage. It has inflicted deep wounds in people’s souls that are difficult to heal even years later. It has eroded trust among brothers while strengthening it with others. The entire nation has been weakened, and its vast capabilities have been drained, breaking the bonds of brotherhood and exposing the flaws of the existing Arab system.
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We must strive to establish a new Arab system that paves the way for Arab solidarity and unity as a necessary step towards a future where the powerless have no place. In pursuit of this goal, Syria, Egypt, and the GCC countries in the Gulf have taken the initiative to lay the foundations, principles, and frameworks of action among themselves. This serves as a rule and starting point for rectifying the Arab situation and contributing to the formation of a new Arab system, where Arab security becomes the responsibility of all Arabs.
The Damascus Declaration was a national necessity at a time when the Gulf War almost tore apart all national bonds. Syria, as it has always been, will fulfill its national obligations towards its brothers and act as a force for harmony, reconciliation, solidarity, and stability in the region. It will stand for truth, resist falsehood and aggression, and bolster self-confidence.
The eight countries that have signed the Damascus Declaration are determined to fulfill their national responsibilities. They are not the sole focus of Arab action. Their actions will benefit all Arabs collectively.