Member of the Syrian Opposition Coalition’s (SOC) political committee Abdel Majid Barakat, said that the recent statements by the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov regarding the return of the Assad regime to the Arab League represent a departure from the international framework for a solution and also from UN resolutions.
In an interview with the New Arab newspaper on Monday, Barakat indicated that all the issues raised by the Russian FM, including the return of refugees, reconstruction, and Syria’s return to the Arab League are primarily an outcome of the political process and must not precede this process.
Barakat said that when the political process and UN Resolution 2254 are fully implemented, and where there is progress in the political process that eventually leads to political transition in Syria, then we can talk about the return of refugees, reconstruction, the restoration of relations and the return of Syria to the Arab League.
Barakat pointed out that talking about outcomes before the start of the political process is a clear departure from the international context of the solution. He stressed that Lavrov’s statements came as part of procrastination and obstruction of all international efforts to implement the UN resolution.
Barakat also said that the SOC has repeatedly stressed to the UN envoy and all the states involved in Syria that there cannot be a humanitarian solution to political issues. He also said that lifting sanctions, reconstruction, and the return of refugees, are all important issues. However, they must not be allowed to be exploited by the Assad regime and Russia with the aim of disrupting the political process.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
