Head of the Syrian Negotiations Commission, Nasr al-Hariri, warned that the loss of Idlib will sabotage the political process before it begins, noting that the Assad regime is seeking to wriggle out of its political obligations through military escalation.
“Every time we get closer to resuming the political process, the Assad regime resorts to military escalation,” Hariri said in an interview with the Anadolu news agency. “Negative developments on the ground will negatively affect the political process.”
Hariri said that since the start of its direct military intervention in Syria in 2015, Russia has been trying to shore up the Assad regime and enable it to achieve military victory. However, all these attempts have so far failed on the ground.”
“In all the de-escalation zones, Russia and the Assad regime used terrorist organizations as a pretext, including more recently in Idlib where civilians and infrastructure are deliberately and systematically being targeted using aircraft, helicopters and heavy artillery.”
Hariri went on to say that the humanitarian catastrophe is unspeakable as hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced for the second time in dire conditions. He pointed out that what is going on in Idlib contravenes political solution and all calls for the return of the refugees.”
“It is estimated that 300,000 people have been detained across Syria,” Hariri said. “Only the Assad regime which detains them knows the exact number of detainees. They are being held in the public and secret prisons and subjected to brutal psychological and physical torture.”
“Progress is yet to be achieved in the issue of detainees,” Hariri said, adding: “We do not accept the principle of ‘one for one’ as it is unfair. All detainees must be released.”
With regards to the Constitutional Committee, Hariri said that “all the parties agree on the Geneva Communique of 2012 and UN Resolution 2254 of 2015 as the basis for solution. It has already been agreed that the Constitutional Committee is not the entire political process but a gateway to the political solution. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
