In these continues here on aljazeera after inside story stay with us. Could two thousand and eighteen be the year when the war in syria finally and said hes confident his wisdom is no longer after russia helped him turn the tide but after the military gains what kind of political settlement is possible this is inside story. Hello and welcome to the program. Two thousand and eighteen dollars when examining a story that has dominated headlines for the better part of the past six years syria is on many minds because of the millions either dead one day or made refugees two thousand and seventeen was a good year for president Bashar Al Assads forces rick captured major cities and large areas of rebel held territory the russian result of saucy is due to host a new round of talks in january but after so many failed negotiations the prospect of peace remains elusive well get to our guests in a moment but first zain the whole reports from beirut. Syrians in search of safety there may be less violence because of russian brokered local cease fires but there are still active lines in some areas of the country over the past year the opposition lost sizable territory and the Syrian Government with the backing of iran have also recaptured areas from. The government is stronger than it has been since the conflict began nearly seven years ago but the war is not its and. The war is far from. That is for sure and what were seeing is perhaps winding down the conflict in some parts. There is a likelihood also an escalation. Of the country almost a quarter of the country in the northeast for example is outside the states control the mainly kurdish region wants a federal system for syria the government wants said it would be ready to discuss this but now it calls the kurds traitors for working with a foreign country and the u. S. Decision to maintain a troop presence in the enclave has alarmed russia which says there is no legitimate reason for them to stay. The war is over but the focus is already on dividing the spoils russias president Vladimir Putin wants to play a lead role in. The kremlin has created an alternative for negotiations the russian talks have overshadowed. And now put in plans to host the syrian peace conference in sochi russias leader says he has the support of iran and turkey countries that are deeply involved in the conflict he also says syrias president bashar assad is backing the Peace Initiative that may weaken his powers but leave him in office for at least a few years with a reformed constitution. We will likely see is a syria not divided but the void in terms of spheres of a. Influences it will be like a Multinational Company would Countries Holding shares and of course russia having the biggest share of a political settlement is still a long way off for opponents of the government what is being discussed doesnt amount to peace but priorities have changed in two thousand and seventeen cars for us had to be removed from power were no longer heard western leaders now seem to be more concerned with working with russia to counter irans growing influence in syria have put their ashes into table. Lets now bring in our guest joining us in istanbul yeah a lot of the spokesman for the Syrian Negotiating Committee in moscow alexei clinic of his middle east expert of the Russian InternationalAffairs Council and in beirut sami and director of the Levant Institute for Strategic Affairs welcome to you all mr allawi they would like to ask you this question two thousand and thirteen the general sentiment among the opposition were just a few inches from gaining the war now the general sentiment is the opposition is losing the war against bashar assad what do you what how do you react to this well i dont think that. The opposition is losing the war because originally the intention of the opposition was not a military one in the first close it was just a matter of both scream for certain rights. And the regime on the other hand has selected the military solution for this issue and so far the military solution has proven to be a real failure and what attests to this fact is that all those attempts to find a political settlement for the crisis in syria and on top russia. Exerting all the efforts to find a political settlement unfortunately russia is just approaching this issue by the same means it used for the military solution after its interference on in two thousand and fifteen and thats why it is having real problems in finding this settlement or in finding a solution in other words the syrian case is one of rights of a political solution rather than a military one the military solution has really have proven to be a disaster is not a due to the fact that it has the best stated that country displaced its people and without getting any results for a settlement and that he g. M. Doesnt he in confident as you reported in your report in your introduction which is. Believe i miss conception of the still way ssion duty because of the iranian element the iranian factor and the question factor that gene is still there how could it feel confident ok ms ali they would go back into more details about the different players in the conflict mr klebnikov of the russians up pushing for a political settlement thats its come from this sentiment down at the consider the war all those to be over. So well indeed from the russian perspective and other leaders of other countries like iran iraq. And Syrian Government even the United States there can only hope that the isis is almost defeated in syria and iraq so currently russia it wants to concentrate more on the political process and thats the country that the majority think the political process is even trickier and how to then the military face firstly because. The size opar this will face an issue to discuss the most sensitive and difficult problems like. Because additional and political reforms elections the fate of us it the role of kurds in their countries governance the presence of the foraging. Military formations in this territory so there is the whole set of this political issues which really put russia russia. And the tight spot because on the one hand it has its allies. In damascus and in iran. And the other hand you have these. Kind of rivalry powers are talking and israel in the United States which push for it if once again russia then its a really tricky for it to a balance between them between those two things mr now did i mean the Syrian Opposition has recently said that hes going to establish a new National Army but when you look at the situation on the ground the rebels are losing significant ground there are no longer in the eastern part of the country they are scores of damascus is almost entirely under the control of the government except of some few pockets in the east some hold of the are left with one province which is but then thats ground itself is very vulnerable do you still believe that the little bubbles can still stage a military come back i mean a military combat comeback no but and this is not demetre as to mount of the opposition because based on the balance of power there is nothing to compare between. Russian military force that saved that is email and the capabilities that are in the hands of the opposition however best iran of this opposition a position as political because there is no alternative to the cdn. And any open that is made or invented by the Syrian Regime or. A law will not pave the way for a sustainable solution is sustainable solution can only be reached with the participation of the opposition that unified itself recently so its true that we can talk about russian victory in syria military victory however this victory should be sustainable ok and their way to do this is i mean to reach a political settlement and no political settlement. Of a bird without the presence and the participation of and as with them and lets delve into the issue of the political settlements you said that youre not going to attend the sochi summit what are the options left for you if you dont want to be part of a broader comprehensive political settlement led by the russians the turks and the iranians. Well its not a matter of saying yes to what russia intends to hold in sochi or saying no the issue is one of investigating this particular initiative by the russians as i told you previously that russia believes that it can solve their problems politically as it thinks that its old militarily you cannot use the same means and tools to approach the political settlement the russia has no parallel no compatible power in the field and it has jets all over the place it just use syria feel a test feel about whats its weapon mr a lot of the work youre problem with him and initiative they would like you to negotiate a political transition they want to sell a set to stay in power and they say that you are welcome to be part of a broader political establishment but you wont be the only one to have the biggest say what is your problem with this perspective. Ok well fine thats we have to discuss then the nature of this initiative or this invitation to a sooty Congress First when new russia has put a precondition for those attendees those who are going to attend it first they do not need they cannot discuss the fate of assad and his regime they cannot talk about political transition and they have to be certain members who are. Along the same line with the regimes attendances for a political settlement in other words they are the product of the inside and whatever the intelligence needs another thing is that this particular congress if it just dumps all the u. N. Security Council Resolutions upon which a political settlement is to be achieved in syria if they are of sidelined no one could just go to to. A submission for the russian acute patient of syria and for the continuation of brutality dictatorship in syria because this dictatorship has proven to be the best prescription for the continuance of tension for they continue with you of terrorism and at the same time it is it is a complete to block for any possibility for reconstructing syria and bringing back those who were displaced or dispersed all over the world. And this is a source for tension if the if congress if sochi is as such no one would go to and you notice also this diet of Syrian Opposition towards suchi and it is considered to be a submission for the russian will i say this cannot be the case lets further expand our discussion. Clinic of how can even even heard what mr lee has been saying particular voice in the concerns of the sea in opposition how can the brushes with pak is the whole initiative in sochi. To be able to be to bring it in a very appealing way to the Syrian Opposition but also to the International Community are the russians willing to consider the fate of a shuttle i said well in the first place i want to say that russia didnt i mean the only book condition russia put for this congress is that all parties but its a paid shouldnt have any preconditions. For the negotiations so secondly i think we should look at this initiative. In the same way as to not in the very beginning if you remember also the major and really big part of the opposition on the ground didnt want to participate in it but gradually they started to be told more and more and we all witnessed the results and effectiveness of us in the talks which resulted in making. Six cease fires such. As you know and you know as we know that was largely due to the turkish intervention which spoke with the oppositional told them we would like you to go there hoping that the deed would be conducive to a political settlement now everyone is upset the turks themselves are saying but that is a terrorist he must go he has no future in any political settlement. Ok look at that the gun was saying Different Things at different times hes switching his opinions and attitudes quite quite often so i dont think we should. Take it as a true words into approach but definitely its might have some play behind that but of course i mean we already have russian iranians to behind this congress will already have stephan de mistura the u. S. Or the warrior who supports this idea and probably now is the discussions that he and the u. N. Representatives was also present in such it. So this is why i wont agree with with michael egan and his double that this congress is aimed at. Over. Kind of taking over or replacing in no way it has such a role and quite the opposite ok mr not if this is something which has which is going to be a paddle paddle a path we should i think give a chance to the russians in a way or another because geneva has been there for ages but with absolutely no way out of this crisis many consider geneva to be a total failure why dont we give the russians an opportunity. I mean as long as. Such she will come was an end in mind and and it can depict lucian is sustainable solution for syria yes why not because even the russian are saying that such is not in contradiction with the process is complimentary but up to now we dont see the end in mind this crisis or this crisis is easy and difficult at the same time because it relies on one point that is today a point of conflict which is the fate of mr assad that opened the way for that an addition period and this point no one up to now has been able to resolve and actually what there sochi order to mean far as long as it does not tackle that core of this issue which is that there are conflicting issue. So no such she or notion eba or other process will reach a happy and ok mr ali the union member in geneva even would with the help of the International Community the french the americans the british the. Key players in the gulf countries and also turkey the moment you got to the point of transitional period and the future of the country its stalled because everyone was scared about the idea of what another syria without bashar assad how can you convince the International Community this time that a syria without Bashar Al Assad is good for everyone. Well the International Community doesnt have a problem with that the problem really lies with russia itself had there been russian will towards implementing un security Council Resolutions be they the geneva communique orders aleutian two to five for i think the geneva could have a chance how about i want to just refer back to what your guest from moscow are calling for most of the guardian a stunner stunna was meant to be a military and humanistic matter just for deescalation and for the detainees to be released for a cease to be lifted and for aid to get to those besieged. And none of those goals were achieved as they intend they were intended to be unfortunately however russia wanted to use also the platform of a stana to politicize it when they introduced the constitution asserting constitution in one of their rounds and it was rejected and it found just a stunt to be to be not quite helpful in just going into that political track and thats why this matter was invented we can say that National Dialogue was mentioned in two to five four but ask me who who is supposed to carry out such political dialogue it is the political transition body that has to be formed after a political transition takes place russia wants to find a political settlement for syria but not through these means and tools if it is really seriously and strategically determined to find a solution it is not through these tactics or do it those three through ok through these means second it has to go into this thinks quite serious late and say well we need to find a put a political transition and we can carry on a political National Dialogue inside syria and either in sochi or in any other ok geneva can also find a chance. Russia has good time and will mr do you think that the russians the turks of the iranians can sit together so that differences aside and work towards a comprehensive political settlement just by the conflict in agendas that in syria any negotiations are better than their absence thats the first point secondly we already witness that in this over two thousand and seventeen russia took in iran has managed to reach certain agreements and reach certain successes in syria and i think it laid the quite Solid Foundation for their future. Discussions however as we already indicated in the beginning that the political track is even more complex and more complicated than the new true one so here i wont. I would expect that the risk of increasing tensions between russia and iran russia in turkey is increasing and its way bigger than during the materia. Phase of the conflict as for the. The prospects that would also depend on how russia would push him pressure us its government so death that the russia is interested in quite fast Political Risk because it needs to demonstrate its successes ok because if it will fail if it fails to deliver on its promises it its image as a capable partner which can keep its allies in syria in damascus in check would would be damaged ok mr nudge elicit a little bit about one of the key players has been a little bit distancing itself from the Syrian Government which is the United States of america can the americans this time bring about a significant change to the course of this conflict. I mean definitely since the. Administration came to power they invested more militarily in syria which is giving them today more leverage than they used to have before two thousand and sixteen. And but i think that the american approach towards syria or this. Is more of a decentralized. If we can put it in the stern as they are trying to consolidate or to transform this area of the minute i ordered the escalation zation zone into empowering new administration counter and but this at the same time. Doesnt offer a comprehensive solution. One that big into consideration they constitution and that and and the fate of mr assad and one major impediment i think to this lucian is we have we didnt we didnt talk about irans role and giving that Current International situation and that conflict which is increasing between the United States and iran between it and the iran could make a serious point. Very challenging in the years to come this is going to be my last question youve lost significant ground you are undermined and you are divided how was the do you see yourself in the future just sitting with bashar assad negotiating the future of your country. Well in the last you need to round the earth one we really wanted that to happen but there is run away from that because simply it has been all along determined for two to two to find a solution through military means which doesnt work however if talks about in the in the media about a political solution when in reality this doesnt suit it because talking about a political settlement means means the implementation of u. N. Security Council Resolutions here and they talk about political transition whether they whether they want it or not thank you thank you very much indeed mr allawi the. Clinic over there is there so i mean other thank you for your friends and for your contribution and thank you too for watching you can see the program again any time by visiting our website dot com and for further discussion go to our Facebook Page thats facebook dot com forward slash a. J. Inside story you can also join the conversation on twitter our hand it is a jane side story for me hashim amla of the whole team here by phone and. I. Twenty seventeen has been full of stories that have changed the Global Political landscape and aljazeera has been there to cover them or. Join us as we look back at some of our most memorable interviews of the year and a special edition of talk to aljazeera at this time its called the pole of the north the largest freshwater lake in northern china its about to be transformed into an urban mega region to ease pressure on nearby beijing president xi jinping has taken a personal interest in the project this area relies on come to ground water a human consumption and that the culture and groups like greenpeace are concerned about the impact of millions more people moving here from the lakeside restaurants in guest house she says she is concerned about what the future holds but has faith in the government if you have more people you have more garbage and the environment could be damaged but i believe the government will look after us this is seen as she didnt pings legacy project and many people believe if he has the will and the resources to create a development here thats three times the size of new york then it should be within his power to do it in an environmentally friendly way in the philippines millions live in overcrowded slow but some have found another place to call home Public Cemeteries one on one east meets those living among the dead at this time on aljazeera. Peter dobby in doha with your top stories from aljazeera Iranian State media reporting that at least fourteen people have been killed events antigovernment protests since saturday a government backed channel says Security Forces repelled armed protesters who tried to take over police stations and military bases that i shouldnt