President of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC), Salem Al-Meslet, meet with Turkish academics and journalists at the SOC’s headquarters in Istanbul and discussed with them the latest field and political developments in Syria. They also discussed the issue of Syrian refugees in Turkey and the real reasons behind their stay in neighboring countries.
The meeting brought together SOC’s Vice-presidents Abdelahad Astepho and Ruba Habboush, Secretary of the political committee Abdel-Majid Barakat, members of the political committee Abdel-Basit Abdel-Latif, and the member of the General Assembly Youssef Mahalli.
Al-Meslet thanked the Turkish people and government for hosting the Syrian refugees, stressing Turkey’s important role in supporting the rights of the Syrian people in international forums. He pointed out that what Turkey has done towards the Syrians will remain in the minds of Syrians for generations to come.
Al-Meslet stressed that the relationship with Turkey is excellent and very positive. He made it clear that he has recently taken a decision to close the office of the SOC’s president in Ankara based on evaluations and recommendations within the institution to reduce expenses. He pointed out that the decision was made within the institution, contrary to allegations by some parties that seek to ruin the relationship with Turkey.
Al-Meslet pointed out that Turkey has received millions of Syrian refugees, adding that the SOC is therefore seeking to secure the voluntary and safe return of Syrian refugees. He stressed that this return requires a political transition in Syria and a regime change to ensure the safety of all returnees.
Moreover, Al-Meslet pointed out that the liberated areas are not yet prepared to receive refugees as they need a unified civil administration and the strengthening of the role of the Syrian Interim Government to carry out this task and be able to improve living conditions and services. He said that the SOC is permanently present in the liberated areas, adding that SOC’s members make regular visits and field tours to ascertain the situation and listen to the needs of the population.
He pointed out that the population in the liberated areas are suffering a lot as a result of the destruction caused by the regime and its allies’ bombardment, the terrorist attack being carried out by the terrorist PKK organization, and the severe shortage of resources.
Al-Meslet stressed that the SOC is seeking to ease the burden on Turkey by enabling the Syrian Interim Government and its executive institutions to manage the liberated areas and protect the population from terrorist attacks.
Al-Meslet reaffirmed the SOC’s commitment to a political solution in accordance with UN resolutions, most importantly the Geneva Communique of 2012 and UN resolutions 2118 and 2254. He criticized the procrastination and failure to implement UN resolutions.
He made it clear that Turkey has had a major role in pressing for the implementation of UN resolution 2254, but international inaction prevented this, calling on all countries to assume their responsibilities with regards to toppling the murderous Assad regime.
For his part, SOC’s Vice-President Astepho spoke about the political process and the seventh session of the Constitutional Committee currently being held in Geneva, stressing that there is nothing new, and that there is a complete deadlock in this path.
Astepho added that the results of the seventh session are like those of its predecessors, stressing that the SOC does not expect to reach any tangible results at the end of this session. He also stressed that the path of the Constitutional Committee continues, but the SOC does not rely on it at all.
Moreover, Astepho pointed out that the lukewarm positions of the international community on the Russian invasion of Syria encouraged Putin to invade Ukraine.
He stressed that the Syrian people stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people as well as support reaching a ceasefire and the preservation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine. He added that the Assad regime is Russia’s partner in the aggression against Ukraine, whether politically by voting in favor of Russia in the UN General Assembly, or militarily by sending militants to fight alongside Russia.
Habboush pointed out that the Syrian people were forced out of their homes to escape the Assad regime’s military machine and for fear of being killed by Russian forces and Iranian terrorist sectarian militias. She added that the Syrian people suffered from the hardships of banishment and well aware of the meaning of war and did not wish for any people anywhere in the world.
She pointed out that the issue of detainees and forcibly disappeared persons in Syria constitute a major concern for the SOC, adding that there is no solution for this issue due to the lack of seriousness on the part of the international community to find a solution that ends the suffering of the Syrian people.
Habboush spoke about the importance of continuing the flow of humanitarian aid to those in need in Syria, stressing that using the humanitarian aid as a bargaining chip is totally unacceptable.
Habboush added that the SOC is seeking to empower Syrian women and ensure their participation in decision-making positions and all other fields so as they contribute to shaping the future of Syria.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
