President of the Syrian Coalition Anas Alabdah proposed the establishment of a mechanism that would see the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany engage to find a political solution in Syria, ending the monopoly of the United States and Russia over the Syrian file, which has so far impeded efforts to reach tangible results or a political solution.
Alabdah was speaking during a joint press conference with head of the National Coordination Commission Hassan Abdulazim in Brussels on Wednesday following the fourth consultative meeting between the two sides.
Alabdah pointed out that the opposition is waiting for a European response to the proposal, noting that such a mechanism “would put an end to the monopoly of the United States and Russia over the solution in Syria.”
“The European Union foreign ministers are now convinced of the need to play a more active role in the Syrian file,” Alabdah said, adding that “all the European countries are directly affected by the Syrian conflict. No doubt the stability of the Middle East is linked to the stability of Syria.”
Alabdah called upon the European Union to play a greater role in the political process in Syria, pointing out that the EU role in Syria “has been limited to the provision of humanitarian assistance.”
Alabdaha pointed out that 513 civilians, including 57 women and over 200 children, have been killed in Syria in the first ten days of the month of Ramadan. Around 14 vital civilian facilities, such as bakeries and hospitals, have been bombed, while the number of besieged areas across Syria has risen to 50. The Assad regime has not yet lifted any blockade on the areas its forces besiege nor has it released any detainees from its prisons, he added.
“We met here to salvage the political process which the Assad regime seeks to undermine through ignoring UN resolutions and lack of commitment to the Geneva III conference,” Alabdah stressed.
Alabdah also said that the Syrian Coalition and the National Coordination Commission agreed on clear mechanisms to support the opposition’s High Negotiations Committee (HNC) in order to reach a just political solution and achieve political transition.
For his part, head of the National Coordination Commission Hassan Abdulazim said: “It is our duty to support the joint efforts aimed at the unification of the Syrian opposition in light of the failure of all international efforts to find a solution in Syria. This failure has resulted in more displacement of the Syrian people and also increased the risk of partitioning the country.”
Abdulazim pointed out that the Brussels meeting “has laid the groundwork for the unification of the Syrian opposition across the whole political spectrum and for laying out a common vision within the framework of a national project that preserves Syria’s unity and independence as the basis for the success of the political process.”
The Syrian Coalition and the National Coordination Commission held their fourth series of meetings on 13-15 June in Brussels, hosted by Secretary-General of the European External Action Service Alain Le Roy. Conferees reiterated commitment to a political solution in Syria and stressed the need to intensify efforts to reach such a solution that would put an end to the tragedy unfolding in Syria and achieve the aspirations of the Syrian people. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Anadolu Agency)
