Local ceasefire initiative in Zabadani

Export agreement:

Export agreement coding (PDF)

Country/entity: Syria
Region: Middle East and North Africa
Agreement name: Local ceasefire initiative in Zabadani
Date: 18 Nov 2014
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/local conflict
Syrian Conflicts (1948 - ) (1976 - 2005) (2011 - )
The agreements relate to three different conflict contexts. Israel-Syria and Syria-Lebanon. The Syrian-Israeli conflict was a key factor for the Syrian intervention during the Lebanese Civil War, with Syrian-backed Palestinian Liberation Army units intervened in 1976 against the Palestinian/Leftist militias. Following a massacre at Tel al-Zaatar that year, Syria was forced to accept a ceasefire at a meeting of the Arab League. However, the Arab League also mandated an Arab Deterrence Force, consisting of mostly Syrian soldiers with token contributions from other Arab League states, thus further legitimizing the Syrian presence in Lebanon. During a second bout of fighting that began in 1989, caused by the formation of rival Lebanese regimes in East and West Beirut, the Syrian-backed regime won and in 1991 the ‘Treaty of Brotherhood, Cooperation and Coordination’ was signed to legalize the Syrian occupation as a means to ensure the security of Syria. Syrian forces were forced to withdraw in 2005 following possible involvement in the assassination of Lebanon’s President Hariri.

Syria-internal. In 2011, domestic upheaval following a wave of protests across the Arab World soon led to violent repression of protestors by Syrian government troops. The violence progressed steadily and by July 2011 the Free Syrian Army (FSA) was formed consisting of defected military units and new recruits. The FSA and rebel umbrella group known as the Syrian National Council represented the first attempt at coordinating rebel factions in late 2011. However, a steady influx of foreign fighters and increased sectarianism radicalised opposition groups, which relied on foreign funding. The nature of the conflict changed drastically in late 2013 as infighting among the opposition groups increased. One of the more significant developments was the split between the al-Qaeda outfits the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, ISIS), and Jabhat al-Nusra in early 2014 in addition to the intensified targeting of other rebel factions by ISIS fighters in particular, including the Kurdish Peshmerga, the FSA and other jihadist outfits. Since the summer of 2014, the conflict was further internationalized when ISIS announced the formation of an Islamic state eroding the state line between Iraq and Syria and also in mid-2015 when Russian forces intervened on behalf of the Bashar al-Assad government in Damascus.
Stage: Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: Intra-Syrian Process (state/non-state)
Parties: The people of Zabadani
Third parties: -
Description: Ceasefire initiative launched by the people of Zabadani to bring an end to the fighting with Syrian forces, facilitate the return of the displaced and detainees, and the return to normal life for civilians.

Agreement document: SY_141118_Local ceasefire initiative in Zabadani_TR.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): SY_141118_Local ceasefire initiative in Zabadani.pdf (opens in new tab)| Download PDF

Local agreement properties

Process type: Isolated example
Rationale: The agreement is a civilian initiative that does not seem to have been signed by representatives of the Syrian regime or Syrian forces - although it aims to preserve 'the status of the state'. Moreover, at the time the ceasefire initiative was launched, there was no culture of signing agreements as a medium to solve recurring issues in this locale and to reach peace. More agreements will be signed in Zabadani in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Is there a documented link to a national peace process?: T
Link to national process: articulated rationale: While the agreement does not seem to have been signed by representatives of the Syrian regime or Syrian forces, it aims to preserve 'the status of the state' and foster cooperation between representatives of the Syrian state and civilians.
Name of Locale: Zabadani and surrounding agricultural lands
Nature of Locale: Region
GPS Lat/Long (DD): 33.727884, 36.103005
Participant type: Local community/civilian group(s)/civil society organisations
Mediator, facilitator or similar: No mention of mediator or similar

Local issues

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture): Page 1,
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Page 1,
[...] relying on Allah and the efforts of the faithful people, no to stand in front of some obstacles, which will disappear with the coming days, Allah willing.
Grievance List: No specific mention.
Cattle rustling/banditry: No specific mention.
Social cover: No specific mention.

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Agreement

We, the people of Zabadani, based on sincere intentions and solid effort to spare bloodshed, welcome every initiative that carries a glimmer of hope to solve this crisis that has destroyed the country and the people, relying on Allah and the efforts of the faithful people, no to stand in front of some obstacles, which will disappear with the coming days, Allah willing.

To preserve the dignity of the citizen and his property, and the status of the state, and its civil and service institutions, we wish to end the fighting in our city and the surrounding agricultural lands and restore civil and service institutions in preparation for the return of the displaced and detainees to their homes, enabling farmers to work in their farms safely and the return to normal life for civilians.

This requires the following:

1. Form a committee of the people and the state with the authority to follow up the implementation of this agreement and to deal with violations and all developments.

2. Declare a cease-fire from both sides, and this includes stopping the bombing from checkpoints and planes, sniping, arrests and raids by the state, stopping all military actions by fighters and ending armed manifestations within the limits of the agreement.

3. Cooperation of the two parties to reactivate all civil and service institutions (the municipality – the court – water [directorate] – post office – title deed – schools – electricity – water – … etc.

4. The return of the manager of the district and his former police force staff to carry out their duties.

5. Working to release detainees from prisons because of these events.

6. Lifting the siege on the city and bringing in foodstuffs, medicines and fuel supplies, construction materials and agricultural supplies.

7. Enable farmers to work in their agricultural lands in the plain and the mountain.

8. The boundaries of this agreement are in the city of Zabadani and the surrounding agricultural lands that are extended from the land of Francis to the heal of the Castle [Zahra Castle], to Ain Shakhoub, Ein al-Ramla, al-Dala, Bloudan, the constructions to al-Ma’moura, to Bukain.