The CC of the Syrian CP released a reflection on the de-escalation zones issue and the crisis between imperialist centers.

ICP, 07 July 2017

As the Astana talks on creating de-escalation zones in Syria reached its fifth tour, the Syrian Communist Party issued a statement on de-escalation zones. The CC meeting of the Syrian CP held in May, just after the fourth round of talks between Russia, Turkey and Iran, deals with the de-escalation zones issue in the context of the imperialist crisis.

The statement analyzed 'the multi-faceted confrontation between the centers of traditional imperialism and the so-called emerging countries might lead to military conflicts several areas'. According to the analysis, unlike previous military confrontations which took place between regional allies of imperialist centers, the current military confrontations involve the direct participation of imperialist states.

Underlining the prominent role of US imperialist aggression by 'direct colonization', the statement pointed out to the illusion about the new American administration that it would retreat from an aggressive line. On the contrary, the escalation of military aggression revealed itself with 'the military strike against Syrian air base which came in complete contradiction to the simplest concepts of international law'.

The Syrian CP maintained that the military escalation in Syria and threats towards North Korea by US imperialism are aiming the People's Republic of China as its 'biggest competitor'. The other competitor, Russia is also facing an enclosure by US allies which could 'lead to a very serious consequences for the status of Russia in the international system'.

The statement asserted that the contradictions of imperialism is also deepening the contradictions of capitalism, revealing in the attacks of imperialism towards national liberation movements such as that in Venezuela and the attacks of monopolies towards 'the rights of the hard-working people of the imperialist countries'.

The popular rejection of monopolies in the European Union, 'the second imperialist center in the world', is evidenced, according to the statement, 'by political transformations and mass movements in these countries'. It said that 'the reformist parties, falsely labeled "the new left", play a destructive role in thwarting anti-monopolistic mass movements, as it has happened in Greece.'

In an evaluation of the Middle East, the statement predicted the Gulf states' allegiance to the new US administration and asserted the increase in the Muslim Brotherhood's dominance of power in Turkey. The status of the Muslim Brotherhood in Turkey was seen as unsettled due to economic difficulties, the resistance of the secular circles and the constant tension in Kurdistan region in Turkey. However, 'Turkey's ruling circles have been trying to overcome economic difficulties by making big deals with Russia'.

On the military field, although the Syrian army had achieved many successes against occupiers, NATO is penetrating to Syria though Turkey which is about to establish an absolute influence in Idlib governorate. The statement referred to the de-escalation talks, underlining the fact that the most important strategic regions are at this current stage the northern and southern regions; the northern region involving the influence area of Turkey, the southern region involving 'the activity of American and British forces and their Jordanian agent'.

The statement assessed the talks on 'de-escalation zones' as similar to the issue of 'safe-zones' approved by the US, but in this case, without its participation. Moreover, the talks which had started between Russia and Turkey later included Iran, US's main object of aggression in the Middle East, defined in the statement with an 'anti-imperialist orientation'. Hence the Americans seem to be determined to 'impose their areas of influence through military operations and occupation of eastern Syria without consensus with other international powers'.

The CC of the SCP called all national forces to struggle to defend national independence, national sovereignty and the unity of Syria. It also called for a complete break from liberal economic policies, 'including a review of laws that undermine public sector status such as the corporatism law'. Finally, the statement said that 'The Central Committee considers that the alternative to the adoption of economic liberal policy is by adopting the policy of state capitalism of a social nature.'