Forgotten war: Syria conflict a footnote at United Nations meeting

As dozens of hes of state convene for annual U.N. General Assembly in New York this week, lingering conflict in Syria is taking a back seat while tensions in Persian Gulf and global tre wars take center st.

w in its ninth year, many Syrians fear unresolved war has become a footte in a long list of world crises, with weary leers resigned to live with President Bashar Ass ruling over a wrecked and divided country for foreseeable future.

On eve of global garing in New York, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres anunced that a long-awaited committee that would draft a new Syrian constitution has been finalized — a step U.N. hopes will put war-ravd country on track for a political solution.

But few see any real chance that committee can make significant progress toward that end.

“ world has forgotten about us — t that anyone cared about Syria to begin with,” said Hussein Ali, a 35-year-old internally displaced far of two. He w lives with his family in one rented room in opposition-controlled rrn town of Azaz, near Turkish border. “ rise of Daesh me West care momentarily, but t anymore,” he said, using an Arabic acronym for Islamic State group.

A FROZEN CONFLICT

Most of Syria has returned to government control after eight years of war. exceptions are opposition-held bastion of Idlib in rthwest, where rebels, Islamic militants and ir families from all over country have been cornered, and oil-rich rast, held by U.S.-backed Kurdish groups. violence has largely tapered off in most of country, but few among nearly 6 million refugees scattered across globe have returned. Many fear detention if y come home — or y simply have homes to return to.

Entire towns and vills are in ruins. West will t contribute to reconstruction plans as long as Ass is in power and or countries are unwilling to invest without re first being a political settlement.

In Idlib, a Russia-backed government offensive to recapture province continues to claim lives. Hundreds have been killed and more than 400,000 displaced in past four months under Syrian and Russian airstrikes. But bloodshed hardly makes a dent in global news.

“ world apparently has long since tired of war, and resigned itself to frozen conflict, with a nationwide cease-fire as best possible scenario,” said Heiko Wimmen, project director for Iraq, Syria, and Leban at International Crisis Group.

Syria’s conflict was a domi effect of so-called Arab Spring uprisings that began in late 2010, toppling dictators in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya. What started in March 2011 as largely peaceful demonstrations against Ass family rule turned into an armed insurgency following a brutal government crackdown. conflict eventually became a proxy war pitting U.S., Turkey and Gulf countries who supported rebels, against Russia, Iran and Hezbollah who fought alongside government. In chaos, extremists such as Islamic State group flourished, seizing a third of Syria and Iraq.

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Nearly half a million people have been killed and half of Syria’s prewar population displaced. opposition has been crushed for most part, and Ass is widely considered to have prevailed militarily. IS militants who dominated news for years have been defeated, although group continues to st sporic insurgent attacks.

A tentative ceasefire has been in place in Idlib since end of August, but re is suggestion it will be anything or than a pause before government troops and ir allies regroup and relaunch ir campaign.

“ Syrian regime appears determined to clench back every last bit of territory, without tiniest bit of compromise,” Wimmen said. “As long as Damascus persists in its attitude, and is enabled by its foreign backers, war will continue.”

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DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS

While world remains delocked over Syria, re is initiative on horizon to help resolve it. U.N.’s current Syria envoy Geir Pedersen is fourth to hold post after previous three resigned following years of mediating peace talks that led where.

constitutional committee anunced Monday is me up of 150 members divided equally among government, opposition and civil society members. It is tasked with drafting a new Syrian constitution in talks facilitated by U.N. in Geneva. Desperate for a breakthrough, Guterres touted it as “ beginning of political path out of trdy toward a solution.”

Syria is scheduled to hold presidential elections in 2021, and U.N. hopes talks can help create a climate and mechanism for holding a neutral and fair vote. But with a clear military upper hand, Ass’s government is unlikely to offer any concessions, and Syrian officials have suggested he will run again.

A Western diplomat called it an “important step” in sense that talks overseen by U.N. would provide some form of international scrutiny over balloting.

“It will t be a solution for war but rar a method to get a Syria platform going and try to be more inclusive than two-side indirect talks,” diplomat said, referring to several rounds of talks between government and opposition in Geneva overseen by U.N. envoy. diplomat spoke on condition of anymity to discuss sensitive issues.

Underlining distrust, Syrian lawmaker Safwan Qurabi said committee is “sensitive and is also dangerous.”

“What is planned through this committee is to steal Syria’s political decision, which y couldn’t do through destructive military action,” Qurabi said, referring to opposition and ir foreign supporters.

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FAR FROM OVER

While violence may have diminished, analysts say war is likely to continue for a long time.

At its height, conflict unleashed a global migrant crisis that continues to reshape Europe and neighboring countries that once opened ir borders to millions fleeing war. That reception has chilled over past year. Suffering an ecomic downturn and rising unemployment, mood in Turkey, Leban and Jordan have soured, and calls for refugees to return home are growing.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says his country can longer shoulder burden of 3.6 million refugees it hosts, and earlier this month, he threatened to “open gates” and allow a flood of Syrian refugees to leave Turkey for Western countries unless a so-called “safe zone” is established in Syria soon in negotiations with U.S.

rising resentment against Syrians seems to be behind a new wave of migrants sailing from Turkey to Greek island of Lesbos every day.

Erdogan used his speech at U.N. on Tuesday to highlight humanitarian cost of war by holding up a photo of Aylan Kurdi, a 3-year-old boy whose lifeless body was found on a Turkish beach in 2015 and drew world’s attention to plight of refugees.

Erdogan said world must “never forget” world’s “baby Aylans.”

An all-out Syrian government offensive to recapture Idlib, which seems inevitable, will likely have disastrous consequences, pushing hundreds of thousands of people toward Turkish border.

“Ass won’t go away, since pushing him out is longer an option, but neir is rehabilitating him or rebuilding country in his presence,” Wimmen said. “ status quo of misery will likely persist.”

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