A delegation of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) visited the Free Aleppo Provincial Council in the town of Azaz in rural Aleppo to check up on its activities and look into ways to develop its work, especially with regard to basic services, and to overcome the obstacles facing the work of the Council.
The delegation, which was headed by SOC’s Vice-president Ruba Habboush, comprised Secretary of the SOC’s political committee, Riyad Al-Hassan, members of the committee Abdul Majeed Barakat, Yasser Al-Farhan, Salem Al-Meslet, members of the General Assembly Abdul Ilah Fahd and Muhammad Ali Issa, and Coordinator of the SOC’s Office in rural Aleppo Ahmed Al-Shehadi.
The delegation was received by Deputy Chairman of the Free Aleppo Provincial Council, Faiz Al-Dabbal, Secretary-General of the Council Muhammad Jallo, and the Director of the Women’s Office Hanan Arabi.
Participant in the meeting also included Head of the Women’s Support and Empowerment Unit, Nevin Hawtari, and members of the Stabilization Support Unit.
Habboush applauded the Council’s efforts as she emphasized the importance of cooperation and coordination amongst the institutions of the Syrian revolution.
Habboush also stressed the importance of developing the work of the youth and women offices. She stressed that this will contribute to strengthening the role of youth and women and making use of their potential in support of the Syrian revolution.
The SOC’s members talked about the SOC’s current activities as they were briefed on the regulations and administrative relationship between the Council and the local councils.
For his part, Al-Dabbal welcomed the SOC’s visit and the decision to transfer most of its activities to the liberated areas as the political and legitimate representative of the Syrian people. He stressed that this move will contribute to integration between the SOC’s political work and the administrative work of the Syrian Interim Government, provincial councils, local councils and civil society organizations.
Jallo gave an overview on the council since its establishment in 2013 as he highlighted the challenges and obstacles facing its work, especially the Assad regime’s bombing of the council’s office and the seizure of its assets in western rural Aleppo by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.
Hawtari talked about the Unit’s activities as she emphasized the need for coordination between all women’s activities.
For her part, Arabi talked about the Women’s office since its establishment in 2017 and some of the activities it has undertaken, the difficulties it faces and the importance of coordination with the SOC’s Women’s Office and civil society organizations. (Source: SOC’s Media Department)
