Syrian Coalition: We go to Geneva II on the Syrian People’s Terms
Badraldin Jamous, the Secretary General of the Syrian Coalition, confirmed that “the negotiating team in Geneva II will be determined exclusively by the Syrian Coalition.” Jamous added that “we will not go to Geneva just for the sake of going, but in order to achieve the objectives of Geneva defined by the conditions set by the Syrian Coalition.” The Coalition’s spokesman Louay Safi emphasized that the Coalition “will not accept the presence of any other political body beside it during the negotiations of Geneva II,” adding that “the Syrian Coalition is the only body authorized to appoint the members of the negotiating team in the conference.” Furthermore, Safi cautioned the international community of “the Coalition’s decision regarding participation in Geneva II is inseparable from the details that emphasize that Assad must step down and transfer power to a transitional governing body with full powers, including…Read more
Marwa: Interim government is Coalition’s executive arm Hisham Marwa, a member of the Syrian Coalition’s Legal Committee stated that “the interim government will not work independently from the Syrian Coalition as it is its executive arm.” This statement comes after the General Assembly of…Read more
Coalition condemns violations against Syrian refugees in Greece Badraldin Jamous, the National Coalition’s Secretary General, condemned Greece’s violations and maltreatment of Syrian refugees who were forced to seek refuge in Greece in an effort to escape from the horror of massacres being…Read more
Death Toll: 27 killed in Syria today, 102 yesterday Local Coordination Committees in Syria documented 102 martyrs killed yesterday, while 27 people were documented as being killed as of press time today, including a woman and 3 children and one martyr killed under torture. Martyrs were cited as: 16 in Damascus, 5 in Aleppo, 3 in Daraa, 2 in Idlib, and 1 in Homs. (Source: Local Coordination Committees)
FSA repels regime forces in Sidnaiya The Free Syrian Army repelled regime forces who were trying to regain control of Sidnaiya Observatory, which was liberated by the FSA a few months ago. The Free Syrian Army also destroyed a tank which was accompanied by a number of regime soldiers, forcing them to retreat to Deir Mar Thoma west of Sidnaiya. Regime troops suffered losses near Osh al Warwar in Damascus during violent clashes with the Free Syrian Army. Meanwhile, regime forces pounded the towns of the Hujaira, Zabadani, Moadamiya, Dariya and several parts of Eastern Ghouta with mortar rounds and heavy artillery accompanied by violent clashes with the Free Syrian Army. A woman and her child were killed and other civilians were injured as a result of heavy shelling by the regime’s artillery. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Smart News Agency)
Air raids on eastern Homs Assad’s warplanes launched air strikes on the towns of Mahin and Hwarin and their surroundings in eastern Homs, which resulted in civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian homes. In addition, regime missiles struck the town of Ghanto with no reports of casualties so far. Meanwhile, a number of civilians were injured, some of them in serious condition, after Assad warplanes dropped barrel bombs on the towns of Akirebat and Jisr Beit al Ras. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Smart News Agency)
Red Crescent evacuate prisoners from Aleppo’s central prison Red Crescent evacuated five prisoners from the central prison of Aleppo today and were able to get food in for the rest of the prisoners after a months-old siege. In the meantime, two car bombs exploded in the city of Ain Arab in rural Aleppo yesterday which resulted in the deaths of 18 civilians, including five children, and injured more than 20 people. Meanwhile, violent clashes took place between the Free Syrian Army and regime forces in the Old City in Aleppo. (Coalition + Local Council of Aleppo)
France Welcomes the Syrian Coalition’s decision to go to Geneva II French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius welcomed the Syrian Coalition’s decision to go to Geneva II on the condition of Assad’s departure, calling it “a big step towards a political solution.” Nabil al-Arabi, Arab League Secretary General, called on all regional and international parties concerned in the Syrian crisis to make use of the Coalition’s readiness to go to Geneva II. He also called for the creation of favorable conditions to speed up the convening of the peace conference as it is currently the only option available for stopping the bloodshed and destruction and for directing Syria into a new phase aimed at fulfilling the aspirations of the Syrian people for freedom and the building of a democratic society. The Syrian Coalition agreed yesterday to participate in Geneva II on the condition that it will be based on a transfer of power to a transitional governing body with full executive powers including presidential powers with control over military and security apparatus. Furthermore, the Coalition stressed the exclusion of Assad and his supporters, who have the blood of Syrians on their hands, in any role in the transitional phase and the future of Syria. The Syrian Coalition stipulated that prior to the conference, access for relief convoys, including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and other international relief agencies, to all besieged areas must be ensured, and prisoners, especially women and children, must be released. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
Saudi Official: the Russian-Chinese veto is immoral The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saudi Shura Council denounced “Russia and China’s use of veto several times in the Security Council against resolutions condemning the Assad Regime in front of the eyes of the international community.” The Chairman of the Committee wondered “how the death of tens of thousands of women and children and the displacing of more than a million Syrian families didn’t stir the international community.” Moreover, he asked: “Where is the moral conscience in the use of veto in such a case?” which has claimed the lives of more than 125,000 civilians. He added that “the right to use the veto has now become a travesty” pointing out that “veto was meant to deter tyranny and not to increase the suffering of the oppressed.” (Source: Al Haiyat + Syrian Coalition)
Geagea calls on Lebanese government to work for the release of persons missing in Syria Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea expressed his sorrow for missing Lebanese nationals who are prisoners of the Assad Regime, and demanded that the Lebanese Government “move on the cases of Lebanese people who were kidnapped and are now missing in Syria just as it did for Hezbollah members who were kidnapped in Azaz, Aleppo.” Geagea also called on the Lebanese government to pay attention to the cases of regular Lebanese citizens who have gone missing in Assad’s prisons and to work for their release as well and warned of watering down this issue with details about unrelated matters. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
Ban Ki-Moon calls for easing restrictions on the movement of relief Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon urged the Assad regime to ease the severe restrictions on the movement of relief workers, pointing to the urgent need to aid access to more than 9 million Syrians, adding that “2.5 million of them live in either besieged or inaccessible areas.” Ban Ki-Moon reported to the United Nations General Assembly that the humanitarian situation in Syria “continues to deteriorate quickly and dramatically.” (Source: Syrian Coalition)
