Mohammed Qaddah, vice president of the Syrian Coalition, said that the talks held in Cairo between the Syrian Coalition and other opposition blocs were centered on preliminary suggestions that can be adopted only after the approval of Political Committee and the General Assembly of the Syrian Coalition. “Our openness to dialogue with other opposition blocs was never the initiative of a particular country, but a decision made by the Political Committee two months ago out of our belief in the need for cooperation and pulling together towards achieving the goals of the revolution,” Qaddah said. The propositions and suggestions made during the Cairo meeting, which, along with the Syrian Coalition, was attended by a number of opposition blocs, most notably the national Coordination Commission, included six basic principles: Consensus that the Geneva I declaration and the UN Security Council resolutions on Syria are the basis for a political solution to the conflict, international and regional consensus is essential for the success of any future negotiations with the Assad regime, the adoption of the statement of principles for a political solution presented by the Syrian Coalition during the Geneva II conference on February 9, 2014 in addition to the roadmap to saving Syria which was endorsed by several opposition blocs. Moreover, it was agreed during the Cairo talks to hold consultative meetings between all spectra of the Syrian democratic opposition to formulate a unified vision for the upcoming negotiations. These consultative meetings should serve as a prelude for a national conference that brings together all spectra of the Syrian democratic opposition. The vision outlined during the Cairo talks stresses that the elimination of extremism is contingent on the elimination of tyranny and making radical and comprehensive changes to the political system to allow for the establishment of a democratic pluralistic system. It was also agreed that military action alone cannot defeat terrorism and extremism unless it is done along with a negotiating process that would lead to building a civil democratic state. Parties to the meeting also agreed to form a joint committee by the Syrian Coalition and the National Coordination Commission to oversee communication and consultation with other opposition blocs and bodies. Qaddah concluded his remarks stressing that “Moscow is not a place to hold a conference, particularly as it has been Assad’s main partner in the killing of the Syrian people since the beginning of the revolution. The country where the negotiations are to be conducted should be neutral and not an accomplice to the genocidal crimes against the Syrian people.” (Source: Syrian Coalition)
