All those feeling depressed at the state of affairs in Syria should welcome the new initiative floated by anti-Bashar Al-Assad rebels aimed at finding a political solution to the conflict. The main opposition body, the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces, has announced willingness to hold talks with members of the regime to end the fighting — provided President Assad and security and military officers closely allied with him are excluded. This is a departure from the opposition's longstanding refusal to negotiate with the government until after Assad steps down or is removed. Moaz Al-Khatib, the titular head of the coalition, made the announcement on Friday — two days after US Secretary of State John F. Kerry said that he was drafting diplomatic proposals to persuade Assad to quit. Kerry described Syrian opposition efforts to negotiate with the Assad regime as courageous. More important, he voiced hope that “there may be an equation where the Russians and the United States could, in fact, find more common ground” on Syria. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al-Moualem is due to visit Moscow later this month. New developments follow a recognition that no outright military victory over Assad's forces is possible though rebels have been gaining ground, especially in northern Syria. International sanctions and a steady drip of government defections have also not weakened the regime. Western and regional powers are also worried about growing radicalization of the conflict, despite Washington's efforts to marginalize militant groups. Differences of opinion among anti-regime factions along with splits in Western camp have prevented effective outside intervention, though US has been covertly supporting rebel groups for well over a year, with “non-lethal aid”, intelligence, and other unknown means. So the fighting on the ground rages on. The conflict that started some 22 months ago has already claimed nearly 70,000 lives and forced hundreds of thousands from their homes. Will the latest diplomatic efforts lead to a solution or at least a temporary halt to violence? Syrian authorities have not formally responded to several offers of talks in recent weeks. They have made it repeatedly clear that they cannot accept any preconditions like Assad's exclusion from negotiations about Syria's future. Moscow too is opposed to such preconditions. Russia's national prestige is increasingly involved in Syria. Damascus is Moscow's closest ally in the Middle East with investments estimated at $19.4 billion. Syria also hosts Russia's only naval base outside the former Soviet Union — in the city of Tartus. So no political settlement is possible without Moscow's backing. Still there are grounds for hope. For one thing, Al-Khatib's formula has attracted wide international support and led to meetings with US Vice President Joe Biden as well as with Iranian and Russian representatives. Al-Khatib is expected to visit Moscow this month. Despite denials from both sides, a meeting between him and Syria's Foreign Minister Al-Moualem on Russian soil can't be ruled out. Another encouraging sign is that the coalition has sought to reassure members of Assad's Baath Party and government employees that they would have a place in a future Syria. Winning over such people is one of the key challenges facing the opposition. This is also necessary to avoid an Iraq-like collapse and anarchy in Syria after Assad is removed or he decides to relinquish power voluntarily.
