Abdel Halim Khaddam, the former Vice President of the Republic in Syria, expressed that the Arab League initiatives regarding Syria have reached a stalemate. In press statements published on Sunday, he further stated that the Iraqi initiative presented to the Arab League is essentially an Iranian initiative, and he deemed Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki as “unfit” for any initiative.
Khaddam, who publicly announced his separation from President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2005 following their deteriorating relationship, asserted that the international community holds responsibility for its hesitance in making a decisive decision to employ military force and rescue the Syrian people. Simultaneously, he called upon the Arab League to decide on the overthrow of the Syrian regime and refer the matter to the Security Council.
Regarding military intervention, Khaddam stated, “It is feasible to intervene militarily in Syria, similar to what occurred in Yugoslavia and the Ivory Coast.” He emphasized that the Syrian people eagerly anticipate resolute decisions from the Gulf summit scheduled for today.
Khaddam directed a message to the opposition, highlighting that “there is a distinction between toppling the regime and overthrowing the state.” He added that the most significant obstacle within the Syrian opposition lies in its divisions and the inflexibility of its factions, which he believes will only serve to motivate the military to reclaim power.