The High Negotiations Commission (HNC) reiterated that the Assad regime lost legitimacy when it started to commit horrific crimes against the Syrian people, giving free rein to states and sectarian militias to invade Syria. Those invaders have now assumed control over the country, violated its national sovereignty, and wreaked chaos across Syria making the country a battlefield for conflicts and a hotbed for terrorist forces.
A final statement by the HNC, which convened in Riyadh on 2-3 December, stressed its rejection of any circumvention of meeting the demands of the Syrian people, any and all attempts to weaken the national opposition and plans aimed at compromising the Syrian people’s calls for a complete political transition in line with international resolutions, especially UNSCR 2254 (2015) which was based on the Geneva Communique of 2012.
The HNC called upon the UN Security Council, all friendly states, and the entire international community to shoulder their responsibilities and immediately work on stopping the bombardment and massacres perpetrated against the Syrian people in several areas across Syria, especially in Aleppo.
The HNC also called for ensuring unconditional humanitarian access to all besieged and hard-to-reach areas across Syria, stressing the need to put an end to the mass forced displacement tactics the Assad regime employs to change the demography of Syria.
Furthermore, the HNC reiterated it will continue to press the UN General Assembly to issue a resolution to protect the Syrian people in accordance with international resolutions on the basis of the “Uniting for Peace” principle. It stressed the importance of holding to account perpetrators of war crimes and against humanity in Syria, adding that it will continue to work on the file of the use of internationally banned weapons, most notably chemical weapons, by the Assad regime and its allies in Syria .
The HNC highlighted in its discussions that the Iranian invasion of Syria constitutes a threat to the entire region as Iran is continuing its expansionist ideological project which is hostile to the Arab nations and risks further spreading terrorism across the entire world.
Moreover, the HNC reaffirmed commitment to a negotiated political process that would lead to a political transition in accordance with the Geneva Communique of 2012 and the UNSC resolutions 2118 and 2254.
The HNC also said efforts will continue to bring the FSA and rebel groups under a unified free national army whose task will be to defend the people and help them fulfil their aspirations as well as contribute to the fight against terrorism in all its forms.
Finally, the HNC reaffirmed commitment to the fight against all forms of terrorism, especially the organized state terrorism practiced by the regime, the ISIS and Qaeda extremist groups, and the cross-border sectarian militias, namely, the Lebanese Hezbollah, the Iraqi Popular Mobilization militia, and the Afghani mercenaries. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Office)
