President of the Syrian Opposition Coalition, Salem Al-Meslet, held several meetings with Turkish officials in Ankara on Monday and Tuesday. The meetings were concluded with a meeting with the Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, at the Turkish Foreign Ministry. In attendance were also President of the Syrian Negotiations Commission, Badr Jamous, and Head of the Syrian Interim Government, Abdurrahman Mustafa.
The two sides discussed the latest field and political developments in Syria. Al-Meslet stressed that Türkiye is a strong ally of the Syrian Revolution and opposition forces, and a steadfast supporter of the Syrian people’s aspirations for freedom, dignity and democracy. He expressed his hope that Türkiye will maintain this stance and take steps that serve these aspirations by advancing a political solution in line with UN resolutions on Syria, most notably the Geneva Communique of 2012 and Resolutions 2118 and 2254.
Moreover, Al-Meslet warned of the Assad regime’s deception and its refusal to honor any of its commitments, a behavior that the international community has become well aware of over the past years.
Al-Meslet also underscored that the Syrian Revolution and opposition forces are keen to revitalize the political process in order to put an end to the suffering of the Syrian people by achieving a genuine political transition that ushers in a new phase in Syria based on justice and equality, as well as restores security and stability to Syria and the region. He cited the Assad regime’s involvement in forming militias and cross-border terrorist organizations.
Al-Meslet made it clear that the Assad regime bears full responsibility for the ongoing tragedy in Syria by relying on killings, repression, terrorism and drugs trade in order to remain in power. The regime also relies on deception and procrastination to obstruct any political process in Syria, he added.
Al-Meslet thanked Türkiye and all countries hosting the Syrian refugees, lauding the hospitality and generosity Türkiye and the other host countries are showing towards Syrian refugees. He stressed that the real solution to the refugee problem lies in achieving a political transition and securing a safe, stable environment that guarantees the voluntary and safe return of refugees.
Furthermore, Al-Meslet reaffirmed the Syrian opposition’s commitment to the aspirations of the Syrian people and the demands of the Syrian Revolution. He said that the Syrian people continue to organize demonstrations in Syria’s north and south to reaffirm commitment to the goals of the revolutions, adding that the Syrian people will not give up these demands till they are fully achieved.
For his part, Mr. Çavuşoğlu stressed that Türkiye’s recent steps aim to combat terrorism; advance the political process in Syria in accordance with UN Resolution 2254; and find a final solution that ends the tragedy of the Syrian people.
Mr. Çavuşoğlu also stressed that Türkiye’s position in support of the Syrian Revolution and opposition forces and the Syrian people has not changed, stressing his country’s keenness on the safety of the Syrian people and its commitment to the rights of refugees on its territory. He refuted the existence of any intention or pressure to force the Syrian refugees to return before stability is restored in Syria.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
