Syrians must remain vigilant against powers' plots: Analyst

Press TV has interviewed Naseer al-Omari, a writer and political commentator in New York, to discuss the future of Syria.  

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: President Obama there is essentially saying that the Syrian people would not agree to President Assad staying in power. Does he know something that the rest of us do not know?

Omari: I do not think so, but a free election would determine what the Syrian people want and an election can never happen when you have a civil war in Syria. So the right thing to do is what has been called for repeatedly now for years, which is a transitional political process that guarantees that all parties to the conflict in Syria sit around a negotiating table and find a way out. It is not about the President of Syria Bashar al-Assad. It is not about individuals. It should be about the Syrian people and their right to choose who rules Syria.

Press TV: From day one of this crisis in Syria, we have seen that the West has tried to impose its own will though, with America saying as President Obama just did, that even if he wanted President Assad to stay, the Syrian people would not. How can he make such a decision?

Omari: Well as I said it is very hard. The whole situation in Syria has turned into a political football. It is no longer about what Syrians want and it is now about regional powers vying to fill the vacuum that has been created as a result of the civil war in Syria.

So fighting ISIS (Daesh) has nothing to do with the removal of Bashar al-Assad or whether he stays or not. The fight against ISIS has nothing to do with the political process that guarantees for the Syrians the right to choose who rules them, the right of all Syrians to live in their country, minorities, rights being protected. It is really about protecting the Syrian people and the minorities in Syria rather than the fate of President Bashar al-Assad himself.

Press TV: And so all that you have said right now, I am wondering must indicate and must symbolize how difficult it will be in Vienna for example sitting around those negotiating table to come to some sort of a resolution here?

Omari: Yes, it is very difficult because as I said the whole thing is no longer about the Syrian people, is no longer about Syria. We are really talking about global powers vying to fill a vacuum in the absence of the singular country controlling the world. However, the Syrian people should wise up to what is happening and find a way because in the final analysis it is about protecting Syrians, it is about keeping Syria united. That is the way to the future and there is no other way.

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