The President of the Syrian Oppositoon Coalition (SOC), Hadi al-Bahra, along with members of the political committe and General Assembly, met with representatives of Syrian civil, political, and social entities in the Turkish city of Şanlıurfa. They discussed political and field developments in the region, their impact on Syria, and ways to enhance cooperation and joint efforts to support the rights of the Syrian people.
The meeting was attended by Vice President Dima Moussa, the Secretary of the political committee Abdulbasit Abdullatif, and political committe members Ahmad Baccora, Jihad Murai, and Muhammad Ali Issa. Also present were members of the General Assembly: Firas al-Masri, Amer al-Bashir, Muhammad al-Hamdo, Hussein al-Raad, as well as the Minister of Agriculture in the Syrian Interim Government, Hael al-Kulash, and the head of the Association of Independent Syrian Kurds, Abdulaziz Tammo.
Al-Bahra provided an update on the latest regional and international political developments and their impact on Syria, especially the aggression on Gaza, which has altered several understandings in the region, including the rules of engagement between Iran and its militias on one side, and the Israeli occupation on the other. This has dragged Gaza and Lebanon into a war affecting hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians and led to the recent incursion of Israeli occupation forces into Syrian territories, which the Assad regime has met with complete silence.
Al-Bahra emphasized that the region is passing through a sensitive and dangerous phase, requiring a thorough study of all scenarios and preparedness, whether in terms of mitigating potential risks or capitalizing on possible opportunities. He stressed the need for all upcoming steps to serve the activation of the political process and be linked to a comprehensive political solution for Syria in accordance with UN Resolution 2254.
Al-Bahra also explained Iran’s role in destabilizing the region with the aim of distracting the international community with crises outside Iran’s borders and keep wars away from its territory. This strategy is based on infiltrating countries in the region and using their people as fuel for wars by inciting hostilities within the population and among peoples of the region. This tactic of shedding innocent blood aims to distract the world from what’s happening inside Iran, while achieving two main objectives: preserving the ruling regime and advancing Iran’s nuclear program.
He also discussed Türkiye’s role and policies in the region, especially in light of recent developments. He pointed out that Ankara fully understands the importance of achieving a political solution in Syria, as without this, terrorism cannot be eradicated nor can refugees be convinced to return safely and with dignity. At the same time, Türkiye is taking precautions to face potential risks that could lead to partition or separatist projects in Syria, posing a threat to Turkish national security. Furthermore, all countries in the region are noticing the possibility of a retreat in Iranian influence, raising the question of who will fill the resulting power vacuum.
Al-Bahra also addressed the upcoming U.S. presidential elections and their impact on all Middle Eastern issues, particularly due to the differing views of the Democratic and Republican candidates on resolving the conflict, especially the two-state solution in Palestine or the “peace for peace” approach advocated by Netanyahu’s government.
He stressed the need to keep the political process alive, as the Assad regime seeks to delegitimize any political body that represents the demands and rights of the Syrian people, whether politically or legally.
Al-Bahra noted that the struggle to keep the demands and aspirations of the Syrian people, for which they revolted and sacrificed, on the international agenda is a crucial battle. This is in light of the regime’s attempts to undermine UN Resolution 2254, freeze or kill the political process, and eliminate the political representation of the Syrian people while exploiting the refugee issue in Lebanon to rehabilitate the Assad regime.
He warned against attempts to limit the Syrian people’s options to bad and worse, ignoring their rights and aspirations, which are the core demands of the Syrian revolution. He emphasized the importance of uniting efforts to achieve the Syrian people’s aspirations for justice, freedom, and democracy.
The attendees offered comments and questions about internal conditions, particularly in the Jazira and Euphrates regions, which face significant dangers due to the crimes committed by the PYD militia against civilians. They also addressed other measures aimed at distorting the region’s history and identity and damaging its social fabric, especially by imposing ideological curricula glorifying the PKK leader and the terrorist group’s history.
The attendees pointed out the need to focus on the Ras al-Ayn area in rural Al-Hasakah and Tel Abyad in rural Raqqa, which suffer due to the lack of connection with the rest of Syrian territory. They called for strengthening the work of the Syrian Interim Government and finding practical and swift solutions to save the people of this region and combat any project aiming to divide the country.
They also discussed the chaos in governance on political, military, economic, and media levels, stressing the need to acknowledge and address mistakes and to remove obstacles to enhance communication and coordination between all institutions and components of the Syrian revolution. They emphasized the need to enforce the rule of law and achieve security and stability.
The participants discussed the issue of Syrian refugees in neighboring countries and the European Union, especially after a large number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon were forced to flee to regime-held areas due to increased Israeli bombing and discriminatory actions by Lebanese authorities against Syrian refugees. They also addressed calls from some European countries to reassess their policies toward Syria.
The attendees emphasized that the return of Syrian refugees is closely tied to achieving a political solution through the implementation of UN Resolution 2254 and creating a safe, stable, and dignified environment for voluntary return. They stressed that Syria is still not safe for refugees to return as long as Bashar al-Assad and the sectarian terrorist militias remain.
They also discussed the importance of improving the living, economic, and security conditions in liberated areas to develop northern Syria and turn it into an attractive region for residence and investment.
The attendees reviewed the main challenges and obstacles faced by residents of the liberated areas, including stopping infighting among the Syrian National Army groups, completing its organization and structure, enhancing judicial authority, and establishing administrative measures to regulate import, export, and manufacturing, which would encourage investment and create job opportunities.
They also reviewed the efforts of the SOC and Syrian Interim Government for the organization of tax laws in the liberated areas, which would help achieve the rule of law. The attendees stressed that this task requires the cooperation and coordination of all efforts, the elimination of chaos, and standing united against the regime, reaffirming their commitment to working hard to meet the demands and aspirations of the Syrian people and achieve a state of justice, freedom, and democracy.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
