Following the angry outcry that followed the inadvertent pushing aside of the Syrian revolution flag during the joint press conference held by President Khoja and head of the Building the Syrian State Movement Louay Hussein, President Khoja apologized to all faithful and free Syrians and for the fallen heroes who sacrificed their lives to raise the banner of the revolution during a press conference held yesterday in Istanbul.
Khoja calls upon all rebel factions to adopt the revolution’s flag and stay away from other flags that are still used by some revolutionary forces.
With regards to the insulting remarks made by Hussein towards the revolution, which were leaked and circulated after the joint press conference, Khoja said that Louay Hussein must answer whether these leaks are true or fake. “The content of these leaks completely contradicts statements made by Hussein at the joint press conference. This low level of discourse does not rise to the level of any free Syrian. If it turns out that these leaks are authentic, the Syrian Coalition’s General Assembly will convene to take appropriate action.”
Khoja noted that “while rebels are making strategic gains against regime forces, the Assad regime began to erode for the inside and to lose its military and social base in an unprecedented level. Everyone is fully aware that the head of the regime is determined to destroy all of Syria for the sake of staying in power, a fact that was better exemplified by the slogan elatedly chanted by his supporters since the outset: Assad or we burn the country.”
“This new reality requires that we continue with our revolution in all its civil and military forms while extending our hands for all Syrians to move to the new Syria, free of Assad and tyranny. There is a need for a departure from the opposition mentality to the mentality of the state which brings together all the Syrian on a common ground. There is also a need to establish safe zones in the liberated areas, to establish a national army to maintain stability that staves off the growth of extremism, and to establish civilian governance in these areas as a prelude to the launch of the transitional phase. This will allow for the return of refugees and displaced persons, for the start of rebuilding Syria by all Syrians and for achieving civil peace.”
Khoja concluded his remarks stressing that “the Syrian Coalition is now sticking together with all armed and civilian forces of the revolution, and seeks to transform this cooperation to permanent institutionalized work. We also reaffirm we will continue to cooperate with whatever Syrian component that adopts a clear position on the Assad regime to achieve the goals of our people and to move Syria to the rule of law, justice and equality. We have already made an important step in this regard in accordance with all civil and military factions of the revolution with some opposition blocs. (Source: Syrian Coalition)