The UN recently approved a resolution on an international roadmap for a political transition in Syria to end the conflict and call for launching Syrian peace talks by the beginning of January, which reflects international powers' conflict of power as well as protecting their followers and 'arms' on the ground in a way that would spare some parties, here and there, some embarrassment.

Activating a ceasefire in Syria and having representatives of the Syrian government and opposition commence negotiations and debates to limit the numbers of those killed and injured, reach peace and stability and limit human and financial losses that could have been used in building rather than destruction is mostly welcomed.

Syria still suffers from human losses. A wounded Arab sisterly country, where many religions and sects have co-existed for decades, still suffers. The Security Council's confirmation that "The only sustainable solution to the current crisis in Syria is through an inclusive and Syrian-led political process that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people, with a view to full implementation of the Geneva Communique of June 30, 2012 as endorsed by resolution 2118 (2013), including through the establishment of an inclusive transitional governing body with full executive powers, which shall be formed on the basis of mutual consent while ensuring continuity of governmental institutions," is sort of putting things in black and white, especially since talking about human rights cannot be achieved except through public democratic choices.

On the other hand, holding the Arab strategic conference in Dubai where the WAM news agency announced that the Arab Spring had cost $833.7 billion, including reconstruction, GDP and tourism losses, the cost of refuges, stock market and investment losses, call for much consideration. The report highlights the detrimental outcomes of the Arab Spring on economic and social development in the region, which calls for admitting that those Arab states had been plagued with regimes that lost their way without thinking about their peoples and opened all doors to foreign greed and violations.

By Labeed Abdal