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Syrian Opposition Groups Sign Unity Deal Syrian Factions Sign Tentative Deal to Unite Opposition
(about 2 hours later)
DOHA, Qatar — Syrian opposition factions signed a tentative agreement on Sunday to create a unified umbrella organization that could pave the way for long-elusive international diplomatic recognition, as well as more funding and improved military aid from foreign capitals.DOHA, Qatar — Syrian opposition factions signed a tentative agreement on Sunday to create a unified umbrella organization that could pave the way for long-elusive international diplomatic recognition, as well as more funding and improved military aid from foreign capitals.
Roughly 60 opposition negotiators reached agreement after three days of haggling at a luxury hotel here. They have been under intense pressure, both from the soaring daily death toll in Syria and from foreign supporters alarmed by the drawn-out factional squabbling that has crippled previous attempts to ease the fighting. Roughly 60 opposition negotiators reached an agreement after three days of haggling at a luxury hotel here, creating the new coalition and electing Sheikh Ahmad Moaz al-Khatib, the imam of the historic Omayyid mosque in Damascus who had to flee the country, to be its first president.
“Today in Doha is the first time the different factions of the Syrian opposition are united in one body,” said Riad Hijab, the former Syrian prime minister and the highest level defector from the Damascus government. “So we ask the international community to recognize the Syrian opposition as the representative of the Syrians.” “Today in Doha is the first time the different factions of the Syrian opposition are united in one body,” said Riyad Farid Hijab, the former Syrian prime minister and the highest-level defector from the Damascus government. “So we ask the international community to recognize the Syrian opposition as the representative of the Syrians.”
The umbrella organization was designed to subsume the Syrian National Council, a previous attempt at unification that has appeared increasingly marginalized as Syria has descended into civil war. That group’s authority was undercut when it failed to attract sufficient support from key minorities, religious and tribal figures, businessmen — and most importantly, rebel units conducting the fighting against President Bashar al-Assad’s forces. The umbrella organization was designed to subsume the Syrian National Council, a previous attempt at unification that has appeared increasingly marginalized as Syria has descended into civil war. That group’s authority was undercut when it failed to attract sufficient support from key minorities, religious and tribal figures, businessmen — and most important, rebel units conducting the fighting against President Bashar al-Assad’s forces.
The hope among Western countries is that the new coalition, somewhat clumsily called the Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces, can establish itself and give local opposition councils the legitimacy to bring fighters under their authority. That would give an important counter-voice to the well-armed jihadist commanders who in many places have set the pace of the fighting and created worries that Islamists will gain a permanent hold. One of the first steps for the new group, likely to be known as the Syrian National Coalition in shorthand, is to elect new leadership, which could begin as early as Sunday night. One possibility for president is Riad Seif, 66, a Syrian businessman and longtime dissident who organized the unification effort and has gained support for the new post despite health issues. The hope among Western countries is that the new coalition, somewhat clumsily called the Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces, can establish itself and give local opposition councils the legitimacy to bring fighters under their authority. That would give an important countervoice to the well-armed jihadist commanders who in many places have set the pace of the fighting and created worries that Islamists will gain a permanent hold.
One key change was that revolutionary councils from 14 Syrian provinces now each has a representative, though not all live in Syria. The hope is that will bind the coalition to those inside. An important change in the new agreement is that revolutionary councils from 14 Syrian provinces now each has a representative, though not all live in Syria. The hope is that will bind the coalition to those inside.
In addition, perhaps the most important body the new group is expected to form is the Revolutionary Military Council to oversee the splintered fighting organizations and to funnel both lethal and nonlethal military aid to the rebels. It should unite units of the Free Syrian Army, various militias and brigades in each city and large groups of defectors.In addition, perhaps the most important body the new group is expected to form is the Revolutionary Military Council to oversee the splintered fighting organizations and to funnel both lethal and nonlethal military aid to the rebels. It should unite units of the Free Syrian Army, various militias and brigades in each city and large groups of defectors.
Before the ink was even dry on the final draft, negotiators were hoping that it would bring them the antiaircraft missiles they crave to take on Syria’s lethal air force. Both the United States and Britain have only offered nonmilitary aid to the uprising. Before the ink was even dry on the final draft, negotiators were hoping that it would bring them the antiaircraft missiles they crave to take on Syria’s lethal air force. Both the United States and Britain have offered only nonmilitary aid to the uprising.
A similar attempt by the Syrian National Council to supervise the military never jelled — organizers said funding was too haphazard. Eventually foreign governments like Qatar and Saudi Arabia, who are both funding and arming the rebels, found their own favorites. A similar attempt by the Syrian National Council to supervise the military never jelled. Organizers said funding was too haphazard. Eventually foreign governments like Qatar and Saudi Arabia, who are both financing and arming the rebels, found their own favorite factions to deal with.
Foreign capitals wanted this unification largely so they could coordinate their own efforts and aid through a group of technocrats. Once it receives international recognition, the coalition is supposed to establish a temporary government. Foreign leaders — notably including Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton — urged this unification largely so they could coordinate their own efforts and aid through a group of technocrats. Once it receives international recognition, the coalition is supposed to establish a temporary government.
There is a kind of international choreography, what diplomats referred to as “sequencing” which is supposed to ensure both that the coalition lives up to its promises and that the international community strengthens it with incentives like a new international financial aid fund.There is a kind of international choreography, what diplomats referred to as “sequencing” which is supposed to ensure both that the coalition lives up to its promises and that the international community strengthens it with incentives like a new international financial aid fund.
But there is a kind of Catch-22 aspect to the relationship between the new coalition and its backers, which also damaged the previous Syrian National Council. The foreign backers want to see the new organization functioning almost like a government-in-exile before they extend it the money and weapons promised, but coalition members said they need at least some of that aid in order to function. But there is a kind of Catch-22 aspect to the relationship between the new coalition and its backers, which also damaged the previous Syrian National Council. The foreign backers want to see the new organization functioning almost like a government-in-exile before they extend it the money and weapons promised, but coalition members said they need at least some of that aid to function.
If the coalition creates the institutions entailed in the agreement, they were promised that they could assume the Syrian seat in the Arab League, for example. An international conference in Morocco by mid-December will be the first test for wider recognition.If the coalition creates the institutions entailed in the agreement, they were promised that they could assume the Syrian seat in the Arab League, for example. An international conference in Morocco by mid-December will be the first test for wider recognition.
“In a way the hard work starts now, to agree on all the details and the structures of this coalition,” said Maurizio Massari, Italy’s Middle East envoy. “In a way, the hard work starts now, to agree on all the details and the structures of this coalition,” said Maurizio Massari, Italy’s Middle East envoy.
A raft of Western and other diplomats, who had been sitting around the hotel lobby over long lunches as the negotiations dragged on, expressed relief that an agreement had finally been reached. “We have crossed the Rubicon,” said John Wilkes, the British envoy to the Syrian opposition. A raft of Western and other diplomats, who had been sitting around the hotel lobby over long lunches as the negotiations dragged on, expressed relief that an agreement had finally been reached. “We have crossed the Rubicon,” said Jon Wilks, the British envoy to the Syrian opposition.
One element driving the changes, diplomats said, is the desire of Hillary Rodham Clinton, the American secretary of state, to consolidate the opposition before she leaves office, expected by January. It was Mrs. Clinton who inaugurated the unusually public showdown with the Syrian National Council, announcing in late October that it should be replaced. An element driving the changes, diplomats said, is the desire of Mrs. Clinton to consolidate the opposition before she leaves office, expected by January. It was Mrs. Clinton who inaugurated the unusually public showdown with the Syrian National Council, announcing in late October that it should be replaced.
Given the level of distrust and ancient feuds among members of the Syrian opposition, there was no guarantee the agreement will hold. But the fact that the death toll has reached almost 200 Syrians a day was a key factor. Given the level of distrust and ancient feuds among members of the Syrian opposition, there was no guarantee that the agreement would hold. But the fact that the death toll has reached almost 200 Syrians a day was an important factor.
“The people meeting here and serving the revolution with negotiations should go inside and bow to the people serving the revolution with their blood,” said Adnan Rahmoun, a fighter with the Free Syrian Army who slipped out of Idlib to attend the meeting. The agreement “meets the aspirations of the Syrian people,” he said.“The people meeting here and serving the revolution with negotiations should go inside and bow to the people serving the revolution with their blood,” said Adnan Rahmoun, a fighter with the Free Syrian Army who slipped out of Idlib to attend the meeting. The agreement “meets the aspirations of the Syrian people,” he said.
But not all activists were convinced.But not all activists were convinced.
“Even the Baath Party itself is great when you read its program,” said Omar Badran, an activist from northern Syria, referring to Syria’s ruling party. “But then you come to the application of it and the reality of it, that’s what matters.”“Even the Baath Party itself is great when you read its program,” said Omar Badran, an activist from northern Syria, referring to Syria’s ruling party. “But then you come to the application of it and the reality of it, that’s what matters.”
Some of the last holdouts said they suspected the agreement was a sly way for the international community to negotiate with President Assad about a transition. So one clause in the agreement specifically bars such talks. Some of the last holdouts said they suspected that the agreement was a sly way for the international community to negotiate with Mr. Assad about a transition. So one clause in the agreement specifically bars such talks.
That would seem to put the emphasis on forging a military solution to the crisis. But one aim of Western capitals is to create an opposition that has more of a critical mass to put pressure on the Assad government to stop fighting. At least some key countries — the United States, Britain and France — signed off on an agreement in Geneva last June that speaks to a negotiated transition.That would seem to put the emphasis on forging a military solution to the crisis. But one aim of Western capitals is to create an opposition that has more of a critical mass to put pressure on the Assad government to stop fighting. At least some key countries — the United States, Britain and France — signed off on an agreement in Geneva last June that speaks to a negotiated transition.
There were a few possible potholes, including the extent of its support among Syrians. Although the new coalition represents some 90 percent of the opposition, up from the estimated 70 percent behind the Council, there are still holdouts that will take pot shots from the sidelines. There were a few possible potholes, including the extent of its support among Syrians. Although the new coalition represents some 90 percent of the opposition, up from the estimated 70 percent behind the old Council, there are still holdouts that will take potshots from the sidelines.
Those who helped negotiate the agreement said that they were keenly aware of the failings of the Council, and that the reality of Syria would make this experience different. Those who helped negotiate the agreement said they were keenly aware of the failings of the Council, and that the reality of Syria would make this experience different.
“There is a realization that the situation inside Syria is reaching a point of no return,” said Yaser Tabbara, a Chicago lawyer who helped negotiate the coalition agreement. “This whole situation of controlled chaos cannot be sustained.”“There is a realization that the situation inside Syria is reaching a point of no return,” said Yaser Tabbara, a Chicago lawyer who helped negotiate the coalition agreement. “This whole situation of controlled chaos cannot be sustained.”

Hala Droubi contributed reporting from Doha, Qatar.

Hala Droubi contributed reporting from Doha, Qatar.