Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 09/2014

Syria: a roadmap for a sustainable political settlement

Joris Couvreur

January 2014

EGMONT – The Royal Institute for International Relations

Abstract

On the eve of the Geneva II conference and amid continued fighting on the ground, this short paper seeks to draw up a roadmap, indicating the different stages and steps on the way to a sustainable political settlement of the conflict in Syria. A longer term perspective is put forward, adopting a broad-based and inclusive approach, focused on a Syrian-led transition process under international supervision with the assistance of key third countries, thus preparing the way for a multi-party democratic post-Baath future.