The Syrian National Coalition’s Secretary General, Abdelbaset Abdullatif, on Friday met with French political advisor on Syria, Fabrice Desplechin, and discussed with him the latest on the ground and political developments in Syria as well as the Constitutional Committee.
Participants in the meeting included member of the political committee, Bahjat al-Atassi, Salim al-Khatib, and member of the political committee and Department of Foreign Relations, and member of the political committee and Coordinator of the Office of Refugees and Displaced Persons Amal Sheikhou.
Abdullatif talked about the latest grave escalation by the Assad regime and its allies in rural Idlib, noting the need for the international community to intervene to impose a ceasefire and to take concrete action to ensure an end to the criminal attacks targeting vital centers and residential neighborhoods in Idlib province, and to do everything to ensure the protection for civilians.
The meeting touched on the regime’s prevarication and its attempts to disrupt the work of the Constitutional Committee. Abdullatif pointed to the need of implementing international resolutions, especially the Geneva Communique of 2012 and UN Resolution 2254 in the order they were spelled out.
Members of the Coalition stressed that the Assad regime has been pursuing a military solution from the outset, making it clear that the goal of the Syrian people has always been to regain freedom, justice, and equality.
Member of the political committee, Salim al-Khatib, said that the new constitution can be drafted only in a safe environment, adding that the Assad regime’s attempts to disrupt the work of the Constitutional Committee is detrimental to everyone, including the regime itself. He also said that holding parliamentary elections before the drafting of a new constitution will be illegal.
Both sides stressed the importance of preserving the strong relationship between the Syrian and French peoples and continued coordination with the Syrian National Coalition. (Source: Syrian National Coalition’s Media Department)
