Former Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam predicted that the Geneva 3 conference will fail to find a solution to the crisis with a road map due to the interventions of Tehran and Moscow. He stressed that Russia and Iran have expansionist ambitions in the Arab region and will foil any project that removes Syrian President Bashar Assad because their plans depend on his survival. In statements to the Saudi newspaper “Al Watan” on Sunday, Khaddam criticized Iran for causing the Syrian crisis and accused Russia of prioritizing its ambitions and interests over the well-being of civilians.
Khaddam also criticized the international community for agreeing to continue the Geneva conferences. He pointed out that “Geneva 3” will not produce a road map and will be similar to its predecessors, which enabled the Assad regime to continue its crimes against the Syrian people, including killing, sieges, and starvation. He emphasized that the conference will not offer serious solutions.
Khaddam highlighted that the Geneva conferences intentionally avoided addressing the root causes of the Syrian crisis, opting instead to maneuver without clear direction. He made an exception for the Saudi position previously announced by Prince Saud Al-Faisal and currently by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Adel Al-Jubeir, which states that Assad must leave, either through political or military means.
Regarding Russia’s involvement, Khaddam refuted the notion that Russia’s goal is to establish naval and air bases. He clarified that Russian military bases in Syria have existed since 1976 but remain unused. He argued that Moscow’s true objective is to alter the existing equation to ensure Assad’s continuation as president.
Khaddam warned that the current situation indicates a further deterioration in Syria, likening it to a calamity similar to what occurred in Palestine. He stressed that this calamity is currently being prepared, with plans to divide the country into provinces.
Khaddam asserted that Russia’s ambitions in Syria are significant and cannot be resolved through international conferences alone. He noted that Russia occasionally utilizes the Assad regime while Iran is involved at other times. Both countries have expansionist aspirations in the Arab region and will hinder any project that aims to remove Assad, as their plans depend on his survival. Khaddam criticized the current negotiations for attempting to settle the regime’s existence despite its involvement in the killing of half a million people and the displacement of around ten million others.
Regarding the opposition’s participation in the Geneva conference, Khaddam expressed his wish for the opposition to refuse attendance to ensure that the dialogue remains purely Syrian, without the imposition of names by the Russian side, which is effectively represented by the regime delegation in name only. He considered this disrespectful to all Syrians, particularly considering the lack of genuine negotiations in Geneva, where multiple parties are involved, and the international mediator listens without a proper negotiating table. Khaddam argued that real facts need to be revealed to the international community during the negotiations.
Khaddam stated that the current regime forces and security services, even since the time of former regime president Hafez al-Assad, function as sectarian forces rather than national entities. He highlighted that any government emerging from outside this regime will face confrontation from these agencies. Khaddam predicted a military coup in Syria within a year or less, with a return to the previous state of affairs. He emphasized that Syria requires a comprehensive rebuilding effort across all levels.
