President of the Syrian Coalition Abdurrahman Mustafa received a telephone call from Mr. Joel Rayburn, Near Eastern Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary and Special Envoy for Syria in the US State Department.
Both sides discussed the latest field and political developments in Syria.
President Mustafa stressed the integrity of Syrian territory, saying that “for us, Syria means all Syrian provinces without exception.” He expressed the hope for increased coordination between the US administration and the Syrian Coalition.
President Mustafa also underscored the need to continue the fight against all kinds of terrorism throughout all the Syrian territory. He pointed out that the Free Syrian Army was the first force to confront the Assad regime, the ISIS extremist group, and all other terrorist organizations. Since the day it was formed, the FSA has avidly sought to protect civilians as well, President Mustafa added.
Moreover, President Mustafa stressed the importance of US-Turkish coordination in Syria, saying that stepping up such coordination is “a priority for us” as it is in the interest of the Syrian revolution and will help meet its demands for freedom and dignity through an inclusive, enduring political solution that brings the totalitarian regime to an end and lays the foundation for a new, democratic, pluralistic Syria.
For his part, Rayburn asserted that the United States and Turkey are actively coordinating on all issues affecting Turkish security and the situation in northeastern Syria, and he pointed out that the US “understands the security concerns of Turkey and the Syrian opposition.” He stressed that the US administration does not wish for Syria to be a safe haven for terrorism.
The US diplomat said that the United States believes Syrian local councils and local security forces must be representative of local populations. He added that his country also understands the Syrian Coalition’s concerns about possible changes in the demographic landscape in Syria, and said that such attempts to forcibly displace Syrian communities are “unacceptable.”
Furthermore, the two sides exchanged views on the latest developments in the issue of the Constitutional Committee as they underscored that the Committee must meet the UN standards and be “credible, inclusive and balanced.” They also expressed the hope that this Committee will pave the way for a political process that fulfills the aspirations of the Syrian people.
The two sides also stressed the need for constant communication, especially at this “delicate, sensitive stage and in which there is no room for misunderstanding or misinterpretation.” Rayburn invited President Mustafa to visit Washington in order to strengthen relations between the two sides. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
