Continued Intra-opposition Discussions to Lay Out A Common Position on Negotiations With Assad

Nagham al-Ghadiri, vice president of the Syrian Coalition, said that “for nearly two months the Syrian Coalition has been holding consultations with Syrian opposition blocs, including the National Coordination Commission and Building the Syrian State movement. We discussed forming a joint committee to lay out a common position based on ending tyranny and dictatorship and working towards a future for Syria in which Assad and his inner circle do not have any role to play.” Ghadiri also said that “the Syrian Coalition is reaching out to activists, civil society organizations and labor unions working inside Syria to boost coordination and step up support for civil and revolutionary forces working on the ground.” Moreover, she pointed out that “we are seeking to hold meetings with rebel factions not included under the umbrella of the FSA’s Supreme Military Council to harmonize our views and expand the Council. The disorganization of military support received by the FSA remains the main obstacle to organize the military effort on the ground, therefore we are seeking to strengthen the role of the interim Ministry of Defense so that it functions as the sole channel of support for the FSA.” Ghadiri noted that a political solution cannot be reached without tipping the balance of power on the ground.” The 11-member committee formed by the Syrian Coalition’s political committee resumed preparations on Monday to discuss proposals for intra-opposition blocs dialogue scheduled to be held in Cairo over the coming few days. The committee discussed the documents submitted by the National Coordination Commission to the Syrian Coalition. Hisham Marwa, vice president of the Syrian Coalition, said that the letters sent to the committee by other Syrian opposition components include positive signs toward the Syrian – Syrian dialogue, adding that “we in the Syrian Coalition welcome cooperation with the rest of the opposition blocs in accordance with the goals of the Syrian Revolution and based on the Geneva I communiqué as a framework for any negotiations with the Assad regime aimed at reaching a political solution to the conflict. We also agree that perpetrators of crimes against the Syrian people must not have any role to play in the transitional period.” (Source: Syrian Coalition)