President of the Syrian Coalition Abdurrahman Mustafa called for maintaining the international momentum on Syria in order to find a political solution in accordance with the Geneva Communiqué of 2012 and UN Security Council resolution 2254. He stressed the need to accelerate the work of the international mechanism adopted to identify war criminals and hold them to account.
President Mustafa said that the activation of this mechanism aimed at putting an end to the war crimes being committed by the Assad regime as well as its Russian and Iranian allies is key to resolving the Syrian crisis. He pointed out that prosecution of war criminals would pave the way for the creation of an appropriate environment for a comprehensive political transition in line with the Geneva Communiqué of 2012 and UN Security Council resolution 2254.
Violations are continuing in various areas in Syria, especially the mass forced displacement of the local populations and the targeting of residential areas, President Mustafa said. He underscored that the Syrian people still cherish hope in the ability of the international community to provide an enabling environment to achieve their aspirations for freedom and dignity.
President Mustafa also stressed the need for a firm will on the part of the international community to hold the Assad regime accountable for the war crimes it is committing in Syria and to keep the door open for new military strikes against the Assad regime and the Iranian militias.
“Russia continues to aid and abet Assad in the commission of crimes against Syrian civilians and continues to act unilaterally in contravention of United Nations resolutions and without taking into account the consequences of the crimes against civilians. Such behavior risks undermining international peace and security.”
Moreover, President Mustafa emphasized the importance of reaching a political solution based on the formation of a Transitional Governing Body (TGB) as essential to the restoration of stability, the return of refugees, and the elimination of the threat being posed by the Iranian sectarian militias and other terrorist organizations.
The Syrian Coalition and the Syrian Negotiations Commission will remain committed to the Geneva political process, President Mustafa said. “We are keen on continuing to deal positively with United Nations and its envoy and to discuss all issues, first and foremost the political transition that is needed to put an end to the suffering of the Syrian people.” (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
