Member of the Syrian Coalition’s political committee Yasser Farhan said that Russia’s failure to rein in the Assad regime and the Iranian militias from committing further violations against Syrian civilians casts serious doubts about its ability to sponsor any future peace talks in Syria.
At an interview with Hadath TV channel, Farhan said that Moscow failed to enforce the ceasefire reached between the Assad regime and rebel fighters to evacuate civilians trapped in eastern Aleppo. He said that Assad regime and Iranian militias are still violating the ceasefire and preventing the evacuation of civilians, showing the utmost disrespect for the deal that was mediated and announced by Russia.
“Moscow has not yet changed any of its positions that are fully aligned with the Assad regime, thus becoming a partner to the regime in the ongoing crimes against civilians in Syria,” Farhan said. He added: “Russia has so far abstained from telling the world that it is the Assad regime and the Iranians who are violating all these agreements.”
Farhan went on to say that Russia’s representative to the United Nations defended the Assad regime and its militias at the UN Security Council just two days ago, placing the blame squarely on the opposition. He said that Moscow cannot claim to be a sponsor of any peace agreement as it has not yet shown any seriousness about the implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions on Syria.
Farhan expressed hope that Russia will change its stance on Syria and “side with the Syrian people as the Assad regime cannot survive or be rehabilitated.”
Farhan reiterated the Coalition’s commitment to a political solution that leads to political transition in accordance with the Geneva Communique of 2012 and the formation of a transitional governing body with full executive powers. He stressed that the Geneva Communique of 2012 is an international resolution agreed on by Russia and the United States; therefore, its implementation is not a precondition. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Office)
