As part of the efforts to reach out to and maintain close consultations with the revolution’s forces inside Syria, the Syrian Coalition held a teleconference with leaders of civic bodies in eastern Ghouta which has been subjected to intensifying bombing campaign by the Assad regime despite the signing off on a “de-escalation” agreement in the Damascus suburb in recent weeks.
The teleconference was attended by the Coalition’s Secretary-General Nazir Hakim as well as members of the Coalition’s political committee Okab Yahya, Haytham Rahma, and Safwan Jandali. On the other side of the line were Deputy Head of the Syrian Interim Government (SIG) Akram Tomah, Alaa Ahmad, and Hani Hafez.
Hakim said that the relentless shelling on eastern Ghouta and the blocking of the entry of humanitarian aid by the Assad regime are aimed at increasing the pressure on the FSA and rebel fighters in the area to agree to truces that are favorable to the Assad regime.
Violations being committed by the Assad regime constitute “war crimes” under international law and the international humanitarian law, Hakim said. He stressed that “eastern Ghouta, having been a firm bulwark against the Assad regime, keeps alive the hope of victory over the Assad regime.”
Hakim pointed out that all revolutionary forces must be involved in the shaping of any political solution in Syria.
For his part, member of the political committee Okab Yahya stressed the importance of maintaining close communication and consultations about the latest political developments in Syria. He said that the Syrian revolution is facing challenges that require mobilizing all efforts and maintaining extensive, close consultation among the revolution’s forces.
SIG’s Deputy Head Akram Tomah, who is based in eastern Ghouta, said that the area is still being violently bombed by the Assad regime. “I am back from a tour to Zamalka…The district is under intense rocket shelling.”
Tomah pointed out that the electricity and fuel have been cut off to eastern Ghouta for five years, adding that “most of the civilians now live below the poverty line.”
“Medicines have become too expensive,” Tomah said, warning that medical supplies are running very low in the besieged area. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
