President of the Syrian Opposition Coalition, Anas Abdah, stressed that the Assad regime’s policies and crimes against the Syrian people are mainly to blame for the economic meltdown that is ravaging the country. He called on the Syrian people to carry on with the revolution in order to put an end to the suffering, killings, and squandering of the country’s resources caused by the regime.
In an article published by the Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper on Tuesday under the title ‘Caesar Act and the beginning of the end of the Assad regime,’ Abdah said that the suffering of the Syrian people and the collapse of the country’s economy came as a direct result of the Assad regime’s policies and crimes against the Syrian people.
Abdah pointed out that the Assad regime gave in Syria’s resources, economic potential, and future to Russia and Iran. Not only did the regime make the Syrian people bear the costs of its war against them, but also made the future of Syria a hostage to the foreigners and would force the future generations to pay a heavy price for its crimes and treason.
He stressed that the collapse of Syria’s economy came as a direct result of monopoly of wealth by a handful of corrupt families close to the regime as well as the rampant corruption and predation of the economy at the hands of the regime’s cronies having felt their near end.
President Abdah pointed out that more than 85 percent of Syria’s population are now below the poverty line, while 11 million are in need for humanitarian assistance.
Moreover, President Abdah made it clear that Caesar Act came to protect Syrian civilians and tighten the noose on their killers. He pointed out that the Act targets the interests of the regime, its security branches and senior figures, and everyone who supports the regime, whether they are countries, institutions, companies or individuals.
He emphasized that the Act excludes food, humanitarian and medical aid in order to relieve pressure on ordinary Syrians.
Furthermore, President Abdah stressed that the use of the veto on the UN Security Council to shield criminals will not work this time as the Caesar Act takes effect. He said that this time there is no veto by which Russia can block action at the UN Security Council.
He pointed out that prior to the Ba’ath illegitimate seizure of power, Syria was a promising country with a record of human rights that outmatched many countries of the civilized world at a time when the US was still struggling to give all its citizens the right to use public transport without discrimination and when women in Switzerland did not have the right to vote.
President Abdah also said that the Syrian revolution was a natural course and an inevitable option for this people to regain their freedom and its natural right to live a free and dignified life like the rest of the people of the world.
The sanctions imposed on the Assad regime could be suspended should a genuine political solution is reached in accordance with UN resolutions, including UN 2254 leading to an inclusive political transition that would enable the return of refugees and the rebuilding of Syria, he added.
He called on all Syrians, especially those in the regime-held areas, to rise up against the regime and bring an end to the ongoing tragedies. He said that “the courageous options will expedite the birth of freedom and a new Syria that is based on freedom, dignity, justice, and good governance that distributes the country’s wealth to the people, a democratic, civil state for all its people and children.” (Source: SOC’s Media Department)
