Jarba: Security Council resolution acceptable but does not meet the aspirations of the Syrians, Our participation in Geneva depends on the implementation of Geneva and the Arab League reviewing Geneva 2 negotiations
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The president of the Syrian National Coalition, Ahmad Aweinan Assi Al Jarba, said at a news conference conducted in New York yesterday evening, that the Security Council resolution on chemical weapons massacres committed by Bashar al -Assad’s regime against civilians in Syria, which the Council did not approve to be activated under Chapter VII” is acceptable but does not live up to expectations Syrian people.” He reported that an agreement has been reached on the grounds that the Arab League would serve as a basic reference for any negotiations in Geneva, and the Coalition serves as the representative of Syria in the Arab League immediately after the formation of the interim government, expected within weeks. It was also agreed that the Arab League would support opening humanitarian corridors to save the lives of those trapped in Ghouta Damascus and Homs. The President of the Coalition added that chemical weapons disarmament is not enough to solve the tragedy experienced by the Syrian people, pointing out that the main issue is the existence of a regime that cannot be part of the solution. He called on the international community to focus on the root of the problem that is the war declared by the regime on the Syrian people. Jarba stressed that the coalition agreement to enter the Geneva 2 conference depends on the condition that all discussions are based on the implementation of the foundations of the of the Geneva 1 conference: the exit of what he called the occupation by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah terrorist militia from Syrian territory, all foreign organizations to leave the country, the freeing of detainees, lifting the siege on all the affected and besieged cities within a clear and specific timetable, and stressing the need for the presence of Arab and international guarantees able to compel the regime to implement the decisions. The president of the Coalition rejected Iran’s participation in Geneva 2 discussions considering it as part of the problem. The President also rejected Iran’s participation in the Geneva conference 2 talks. He added that their participation should be rejected until their actions of killing Syrian people, just as the regime does, change. (Source : Coalition) |
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The Coalition condemns the regime committing a massacre in Rankous, the regime cannot stop the will of the people The Syrian National Coalition condemned the horrific massacre perpetrated by what it called ‘Assad gangs’ yesterday, which claimed the lives of 37 and wounded more than 100. Regime thugs exploded a car bomb in front of Khalid Bin Walid Mosque in rural Rankous Damascus as worshipers were leaving Friday prayers. The Syrian National Coalition considered this kind of massacre targeting mosques and churches as a purposeful effort to suppress the will of the Syrian people demonstrating against Bashar al – Assad’s regime. The Syrian National Coalition called on the international community to stop the killing machine and logically deal with the current events in Syria and not to discriminate between killing Syrians with chemical weapons or conventional weapons. In the same vein Jarba expressed surprise during a speech to the Friends of the Syrian people at United Nations headquarters yesterday about the behavior of the international community regarding the chemical weapons massacres committed by the regime in the Ghoutas of Damascus; he said, “It is strange and unreasonable to take away the chemical weapons and leave the criminal who used them at large”, adding in a reference to the illogical dealing of the international community with the chemical weapons massacres committed by Bashar al -Assad in Syria, “is it permissible for countries that intervened against the use of chemical weapons to remain idle about other conventional and heavy weapons used by the regime, knowing that the chemical weapons killed nearly two thousand while the other weapons have killed two hundred thousand , is it forbidden to kill with chemical weapons and permissible to kill otherwise.” the Coalition said that at the same time the international community seeks to conclude a US Russian agreement which the Coalition described as a moral effort, “Dozens of Syrians are dying under the weight of the use of heavy and conventional weapons as well as car bombings and the dropping of explosive barrels with indiscriminate effects on civilians.” (Source : Coalition) |
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The Coalition condemns ISIS for abusing churches and places of worship, Jarba: Extremism is not a characteristic of the Syrian people but instead the regime’s creation The Syrian National Coalition considers ISIS’s assault on Church of Our Lady Bshara in Al Raqqa “and taking the church as base for its military fighters as contrary to the rules of ethics and the inherent rights of citizenship and violates the human right to freely practice religion” This is a form of indifference to the people’s religious and cultural heritage. The Syrian National Coalition reiterated that “the organization (ISIS) was operating outside of the principles of the Syrian Revolution and does not represent the aspirations of the Syrian people and do not respect the high principles of their revolution.” The Coalition pointed out that the ISIS’s takeover of churches and converting them into military headquarters, is an act that in fact is no different than the regime’s takeover of mosques which formed the nucleus of the start of the Syrian revolution as activists said. This confirms what the president of the Syrian National Coalition said in a speech to the Friends of the Syrian people in the United Nations, that the phenomenon of extremism is far from the character of the Syrian people, noting that “some extremist groups originated with the support and planning Bashar al-Assad’ regime, who oversaw the manufacture of several of them and armed them and gave them orders in the areas from which they came.” The Syrian National Coalition confirmed its full commitment “before God and the people to protect the rights of all Syrians regardless of their religious and ethnic affiliations, their political rights, and to hold the perpetrators of these violations before a fair and impartial judiciary.” (Source : Coalition) Al Sabbagh: Changing the balance of power on the ground is a condition for conducting Geneva and there is no negotiation without the departure of Assad Syrian National Coalition member Mustafa Al Sabbagh made clear that “conducting Geneva 2 would not be possible until requested conditions are met”, pointing out that changing the balance of power on the ground is one of the most important conditions to ensure the Geneva’s success.” Confirming that Bashar Al Assad’s departure so that he has no role or seat of power in Syria is not an issue that can be negotiated at Geneva 2. (Source: Coalition) Nashar: The Security Council’s decision assists all powers except the Syrians and lacks holding the regime accountable despite the availability of evidence Member of the Syrian National Coalition Samir Nashar said in an interview on Al-Arabiya that he considered that the Security Council’s resolution, regarding the chemical weapons massacres committed by Bashar al-Assad’s in the Ghoutas of Damascus, serves all the powers including the regime except for the Syrian revolution. Nashar commented that “the Council’s decision did not hold the offender accountable and is only taking away the tool used to commit the crime, despite all the indicators and evidence pointing to the involvement of the regime using chemical weapons, especially missiles that carried chemical warheads launched from areas under regime controls, as stated in a report from the United Nations investigators.” (Source: Coalition) |
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32 Martyrs in Syria until yesterday evening and 94 martyrs yesterday Local Coordination Committees in Syria documented 94 martyrs, 32 until 6 PM this evening, among them two women and three children and one who died under torture. Also, 13 people were martyred in Damascus and its countryside, seven in Daraa, four in Aleppo, three in Homs, two in each of Idleb and Al Quneitra, and another in Hama. (Source: Local Coordination Committees) The regime shells Jobar district in Damascus, the Free Syrian Army targets regime forces in the Nasiriya airport Regime forces shelled Jobar in Damascus as clashes occurred between the Free Syrian Army and regime forces on the outskirts of the district. Regime forces renewed their shelling with mortars on Yarmouk Camp districts in Damascus. Free Syrian Army forces targeted regime forces based in Nasiriya military airport in the Al Qalamoun mountains in the Damascus countryside with seven grad rockets. The strike resulted in direct hits inside the airport. Regime forces renewed their shelling of Moadamiat Al Shaam with rockets and mortar, as well as shelling with mortars Yabroud and the outskirts of Al Raheeba in Al Qalamoun. Regime forces fighter jets conducted an air raid strike on the town of Meeda in the Damascus countryside. Mujahideen of Liwaa Al Islam moved their tanks this morning near Al Bahira area to start the battle “ Al Izatu Lillah” which they announced yesterday where they would attempt to raid many regime thug strongholds according to activists. (Source: Coalition + Liwaa Al Islam Website) The Free Syrian Army takes full control of the old Daraa customs order crossing Today the Free Syrian Army was able to fully free the old Daraa customs border crossing that connects Syria with Jordan after fierce clashes fought by the Free Syrian army against regime forces that lasted four days. Regime forces struck with fighter jets the city of Tafas and the town of Eastern Al Ghariya, Al Nuaima, and Al Sfeira in the Daraa countryside. These strikes resulted in the martyrdom of two people. Regime forces also shelled with mortars the village of Sultana in Al Quneitra countryside resulting in the martyrdom of two children. (Source: Local Coordination Committees + SHAAM News Network) Injuries due to a mortar in Waer, FSA takes control of villages in Hama countryside A large number of people were injured, including women and children, due to a mortar shell falling in a heavily populated area in Waer, Homs, where many refugees live. This happened at the same time that the FSA announced their control of many villages in the eastern Hama countryside as part of the operation called “Qadimoon”. Regime forces dropped from helicopters explosive barrels on Al Uqayribat and the surrounding villages as well as shelling the villages in the eastern Hama countryside with mortars and rockets. (Source: Local Coordination Committees + Shaam News Network) The FSA targets a regime stronghold in Aleppo, Car bomb explodes in Al Mayadeen The FSA targeted the Civilian Defense building in the Al Khaldiyeh district in Aleppo where Bashar Al Assad’s regime forces and thugs are based. The FSA also targeted regime thugs in Nbal and Al Zahraa with rockets. Activists also reported a car bomb exploding in Al Mayadeen in Deir El Zour and the FSA’s targeting of regime strongholds in Gazi Ayash and Dahmoush Tower with mortars in Deir El Zour. (Source: Local Coordination Committees + Shaam News Network) |
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Human Rights Watch: Security Council decision lets down victims of Chemical Weapons Massacre Human Rights Watch criticized the resolution passed by the UN Security Council, which forms the framework for the destruction of the Syrian chemical weapons arsenal, saying it did not do justice to the victims of the massacres waged by chemical regime against the people of the two Ghoutas. Philip Bulobion Special Representative to the United Nations said that “this decision did not succeed in establishing justice for hundreds of children who were murdered by gas and many other serious crimes.” The organization pressed that the “the situation in Syria be referred to the International Criminal Court and targeted sanctions be adopted against those responsible for the vast genocide committed against civilians.” In light of this controversy the Security Council is merely expressing deep conviction about holding accountable those individuals responsible for the use of chemical weapons in Syria, without putting any practical mechanisms for the implementation of those decisions and holding the regime accountable. (Source: Coalition) Rohani wishes to participate in Geneva, Jarba considers Iran as part of the problem The Iranian President Hasan Rouhani expressed that he wished Tahran could participate “actively” in the Geneva 2 conference concerning the Syrian issue. The Syrian National Coalition President Ahmad Aweinan Assi Al Jarba rejected Iran’s participation in Geneva 2 considering it as part of the problem. Al Jarba made the condition that Iran should change its way of dealing in the Syrian revolution if it wanted to participate in the conference. (Source: Coalition + Al Hayat) Kerry: Warns the regime about “consequences” if it fails to respect the Security Council decision U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry warned Bashar al-Assad’s regime of “consequences” in the event of failing to respect the UN Security Council decision on the dismantling of the Syrian chemical weapons arsenal. Kerry praised the agreement which was reached after lengthy negotiations between Washington and Moscow, saying it was “an important accomplishment” in his opinion. He said “The Security Council has shown that when we put politics aside for the benefit of the common good, we remain capable of making important decisions.” He added “In the case of full implementation of this resolution, we will have gotten rid of one of the largest chemical weapons programs in the world in of one of the most vulnerable areas.” But Kerry pointed out that Syrian chemical weapons are not the whole problem in Syria, stressing the need to reach a solution to end what is going on in Syria for more than 30 months, which has resulted in more than 100,000 people dead according to the United Nations. (Source: Al Hayat) |