The leadership of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) and the Kurdish National Council convened in a virtual meeting last Friday. In attendance were SOC President Hadi Al-Bahra, Vice Presidents Abdul Majeed Barakat and Abdul Hakim Bashar, alongside Kurdish National Council Head Nemat Daoud and Council members Muhammad Ismail, Faisal Youssef, Suleiman Ousso, and Fasla Youssef.
Emphasizing the need for regular meetings, both sides highlighted the importance of coordinating policies and crafting joint action plans to address political challenges. The focus extended to fortifying governance in northern Syria, including empowering the Syrian interim government. This empowerment aims to propel the national army project affiliated with the Ministry of Defense within the Syrian interim government, ensuring its capacity to repel military or terrorist threats, protect public facilities and civilians, and support military police forces. Additionally, efforts were underscored to enhance the capabilities of the military police in arresting and preventing crimes, violations, and abuses within the military, with a view towards bringing perpetrators to justice. The civil police were also targeted for empowerment to control security, enforce laws, and prosecute criminals in preparation for legal action.
Both parties emphasized the paramount role of an independent and integral judiciary as a crucial step towards achieving sustainable security and stability. Al-Bahra stressed the importance of the Kurdish National Council’s involvement in shaping SOC work plans effectively, urging engagement in political activities with Syrian communities globally.
Dawoud highlighted the Council’s dedication to contributing to SOC’s success and implementing national plans for the Syrian people’s aspirations. Stressing that Syrian Kurds are integral to the nation, he emphasized their shared goals with all Syrians from the outset of the revolution.
A unanimous agreement was reached on the basic right of displaced persons, refugees, and immigrants to a voluntary, safe, and dignified return to their original areas of residence. While acknowledging challenges in regime-controlled areas, both sides stresses that such returns to the liberated areas is possible, contingent upon economic progress, good governance, justice, security, stability, and basic services.
Acknowledging the humanitarian disaster, the two sides held the international community accountable for the Syrians’ suffering. They called on the United Nations Security Council and member states to fulfill their obligations, emphasizing that the only enduring solution lies in the strict implementation of UN Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 2254 (2015).
Organizational matters within the SOC and revolutionary and opposition forces were also discussed, with plans for ongoing follow-up through relevant departments and leadership.
In a show of solidarity, both parties expressed full support for the peaceful anti-regime movement in Suwayda province. They endorsed the demonstrators’ demands for justice, dignity, freedom, and democracy, aligning with the Syrian people’s aspirations for a political transition in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2254 (2015) to establish a state of equal citizenship under the rule of law, preserving Syria’s unity.
Source: (SOC’s Media Department)
