President of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC), Salem al-Meslet, stressed the importance of a more active Arab role in reaching a political solution in Syria that fulfills the Syrian people’s aspirations for freedom and democracy. He also stressed the need for a bigger, more effective Arab influence on the Syrian file.
In an interview with Arabi 21 news website, Al-Meslet said that the Syrian people are still expecting an effective Arab action in Syria. He said: “In addition to the moral and humanitarian dimensions of the Syrian crisis, the interest of the Arab countries converges with those of the Syrian people in getting rid of the murderous Assad regime that is flooding the region with illicit drugs. The Assad regime has also turned Syria into an Iranian platform that threatens all countries of the region. It is also supporting and recruiting sectarian militias and terrorist organizations that are not only killing the Syrian people, but also threaten all Arab brothers.”
Al-Meslet made it clear that supporting political transition will return Syria to its Arab fold, stressing that the absence of the Arab initiative is due to the lack of Arab consensus on Syria.
Moreover, Al-Meslet reiterated the SOC’s support for any initiative to find a solution that would rid the Syrian people of tyranny and terrorism. He indicated that the SOC has so far dealt positively with all international proposals, including the Kofi Annan initiative, the Geneva Communique of 2012, and UN Resolution 2254.
He pointed out that the real problem is not in accepting new initiatives, but overlooking the fact that the Assad regime is of a criminal, terrorist nature that is very difficult to change. He also said that the regime rejected all proposals for a solution and has allies who are not less brutal, which is the source of obstruction and dilemma.
Al-Meslet reaffirmed the SOC’s commitment to the demands of the Syrian people for freedom, dignity and salvation from the Assad regime and its symbols. He said that any solution that does not achieve these aspirations cannot be accepted, and added: “We seek to achieve a political transition in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2254, which was approved by international consensus.”
Al-Meslet denounced the support by some Arab countries for the return of the Assad regime to the Arab League, stressing that any country that normalizes relations with the Assad regime will suffer from the agendas of Iran that the Assad regime is serving.
Al-Meslet went on to say that putting the current interests above humanitarian principles and moral duties is wrong, adding that the Assad regime has only crises, drugs and militias for others, citing what is happening on the borders of Jordan as an example.
Al-Meslet stressed that the Assad regime has become a tool in the hands of Iran and an implementer of its malicious project that threatens the brotherly countries. He said that the Assad regime is serving Tehran’s expansionist ambitions, which is based on supporting terrorist and sabotage acts through the sectarian militias it has deployed in many Arab countries to destabilize regional security and stability.
Furthermore, Al-Meslet stressed that the cause of the devastation in Syria is the Assad regime, adding that it is impossible to get out of the crisis as long as the regime is there. He said that the true place for the Assad regime is in international courts for using chemical weapons against civilians and committing thousands of other crimes. (Source: SOC’s media department)
