Haytham Rahmeh, the Secretary-General of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC), strongly criticized the Arab countries’ decision to normalize relations with the Assad regime, considering it a detrimental step. He highlighted that the repercussions of this normalization are becoming evident, including increased regime intransigence and obstruction of political solutions, continued illicit drug production and export, the proliferation of militias in regime-held areas, and the worsening living conditions leading to the collapse of the Syrian pound’s exchange rate.
Citing a recent report by Foreign Policy magazine, Rahmeh underscored that Arab normalization with Assad has exacerbated Syria’s problems despite more than three months passing since the regime’s reintegration into the Arab League. The report pointed out that this move allowed one of the world’s most infamous war criminals, Bashar al-Assad, to return to the Arab fold.
Rahmeh said that from the outset of Arab normalization, the revolution’s forces had warned that such a decision would only complicate the Syrian crisis and bolster the regime, Russia, and Iranian militias in committing further war crimes against the Syrian people. He emphasized that the Assad regime has demonstrated a lack of seriousness in seeking a solution while continuously obstructing initiatives and impeding the revitalization of the political process.
Rahmeh stressed that the path to saving Syria lies in achieving a political transition in line with UN Resolution 2254 and holding the Assad regime accountable for its numerous crimes against the Syrian people. He called on the Arab countries to work within this framework and refrain from providing further opportunities for the Assad regime.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
