President of the Syrian Coalition Anas Alabdah said that civilian protection must be the first step in any international agreement on Syria, stressing that this requires the establishment of enforcement mechanisms and accountability for breaches of the truce.
Alabdah, who was speaking on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly meeting in New York, regretted the failure of the United Nations to take concrete action in order to stop the killing machine of the Assad regime and its allies.
The Syrian opposition, across the political spectrum, seeks to make peace in Syria and diligently aims to build a state based on justice, freedom, equality that preserve the rights of all citizens, Alabdah stressed.
President of the Coalition raised the need for a no-bombing zone in Syria to ensure civilian protection; reduce violence; ensure the return of the refugees and internally displaced to their homes; and solve the refugee crisis. He added that such a step would also facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need; contribute to the fight against terror; and pave the way for a sustainable political process needed to reach a political transition in Syria in accordance with international resolutions.
“We are firmly committed to a political solution in Syria through negotiations in Geneva. These negotiations, however, cannot be resumed without stopping the killing machine of the Assad regime and its allies. Unless the killing is stopped and civilian protection is ensured, the Syrian opposition would lack the legitimacy to sign off on any agreement on Syria,” Alabdah said. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
