A delegation from the Syrian National Coalition headed by President Anas Al-Abda met with HE Msgr. Paul Gallagher, Secretary for Relation with States in Vatican. The two sides stressed the need to protect civilians in Syria and stop all military operations.
President al-Abda said that the visit to the Vatican “is very important given its role in bringing peace to different parts of the world.” He talked about the humanitarian situation in Idlib and the Assad regime’s targeting of civilian facilities such as medical facilities, schools, and places of worship, stressing the importance of stopping all military operations targeting civilians.
Al-Abda called for the mobilization of international efforts to stop the onslaught the Assad regime’s forces are launching on Idlib with Russian and Iranian support. He also called for a return to the negotiating table and the enforcement of international resolutions, most importantly the Geneva Communique of 2012 and UN Security Council resolution 2254.
Moreover, al-Abda pointed out that the issue of refugees in the host countries, especially in Lebanon, can only be resolved through a political solution and the withdrawal of sectarian militias from the Syrian territory, including the Hezbollah militia.
Al-Abda stressed the need to release the detainees and disclose the fate of the missing, adding that the issue of detainees is one of the thorniest issues as the Assad regime resorts to this tactic to terrorize the Syrian people and discourage them from demanding freedom and dignity.
For his part, HE Msgr. Paul Gallagher stressed the need to protect civilians in Idlib; stop all military operations; provide humanitarian support for the IDPs, and pay more attention to the issue of detainees and seek their release. (Source: Syrian National Coalition’s Media Department)
