President of the Syrian Coalition Anas Alabdah earlier on Tuesday received a letter from the British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson about the situation in Syria and the political process. The British Foreign Secretary reaffirmed his country’s commitment “to supporting a political transition as the only way to bring an end to the tragic conflict in Syria and the terrible suffering of the Syrian people.”
Johnson stressed that this political transition should be based on UN Security Council resolutions on Syria, especially resolution 2254, and on the Geneva Communiqué of 2012.
The letter comes in response to a letter sent earlier by President Alabdah to foreign ministers of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) and the British Government. Alabdah’s letter called for taking concrete and immediate steps to force the Assad regime to abide by the cessation of hostilities agreement; lift the siege on all civilian areas; and allow immediate and unfettered humanitarian access across the country.
Johnson stressed that “it is essential that we promote a genuine Cessation of Hostilities in Syria and secure full and sustained access for humanitarian aid to those in need.”
With regard to the worsening humanitarian situation in Aleppo and Daraya, Johnson said: “We are taking every opportunity, at the UN Security Council and other fora, to raise our deep concern about unacceptable regime attacks in these areas and to call for an end to attacks on civilians”
The United Kingdom has pressed toward holding a public meeting of the UN Security Council to address the situation in Aleppo. During the meeting, which was held on July25, the United Kingdom called for sustained, unhindered humanitarian access to all besieged areas across Syria.
“I will ensure that addressing the tragic but hugely important situation in Syria remains a priority for the UK and the international community,” Johnson added.
In his first remarks about Syria since he took office as the UK’s Foreign Secretary, Johnson said that Bashar al-Assad cannot remain in power in Syria.
“I will be making clear my view that the suffering of the Syrian people will not end while Assad remains in power. The international community, including Russia, must be united on this,” Johnson said in a statement released on July 19.
The Syrian Coalition’s political committee, meanwhile, held consultative meetings with the provisional council in Aleppo and other concerned organizations to discuss the latest developments in the province, most particularly the use of internationally banned weapons and the targeting of hospitals by the Assad regime and Russian forces. Participants in the meetings also discussed coordinating efforts to ensure a more effective campaign to protect civilians and introduce aid into the eastern parts of the city after the siege has been broken. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
