The Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) held a virtual meeting with Heads of US-based Syrian political organizations and discussed with them their role in supporting the Syrian revolution as well as the latest on the ground and political developments. The meeting was held with the coordination of the SOC’s Office of Syrian Communities Abroad and foreign mission in the US.
The meeting brought together SOC’s President Nasr Al-Hariri, Coordinator of the Office Muhammad Yahya Maktabi, members of the political committee, Abdullah Kaddo and Abdel-Majid Barakat, the SOC’s representative to the United Nations, Maryam Shalabi, and the SOC’s Representative to the United States Qutaiba Idilbi.
In attendance were also Chairman of the Syrian American Council, Zaki Lababidi, Executive Director of the Syrian American Council Suzanne Meriden, Chairman of MedGlobal Organization, Zahir Sahloul, Chairman of the Syrian Emergency Organization Hashem Mubarak, and Chairman of the Christians for Peace organization. Mirna Barq, Chairman of the Citizens for a Secure and Safe America group, Muhammad Bakr Ghubais, and Chair of the Americans for a Free Syria group, Ismail Pasha.
The two sides discussed the security, on the ground situation, and humanitarian and living conditions in the liberated areas. They also discussed ways to avoid the expected Russian veto to block a bid to extend the cross-border aid mandate.
Moreover, they discussed prospects of reforming the SOC as well as strengthening its political and popular representation. They also touched on the latest developments in the work of the Constitutional Committee and the results of the latest meetings that took place in this regard.
Maktabi stressed that the SOC is very keen to strengthen its presence in the liberated areas and activate the institutions and executive bodies in in order to improve essential services and alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people.
Al-Hariri indicated that the security situation in the liberated areas remains a source of concern due to the presence of sleeper cells working for ISIS, the Assad regime and the PKK terrorist group. He said that the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Interior in the Syrian Interim Government will launch a large campaign to restore security and stability to the region.
Al-Hariri also talked about the process of reforming the SOC at the level of membership, pointing out that the SOC will incorporate new members. He added that the mechanism of military representation will also be reconsidered, indicating a decision regarding military representation will be issued soon.
Furthermore, Al-Hariri stressed that one of the major challenges in the next stage is to seek, along with international partners, to extend the UN mandate for the cross-border aid delivery to those in need in Syria, stressing the need for international support in order to prevent the repetition of the Russian veto.
With regard to the political process, Al-Hariri stressed that the constitutional process alone cannot bring about a solution, stressing that all tracks of UN Resolution 2254 must be opened, on top of which is the transitional governance.
Barakat gave an overview on the SOC’s Caesar Act Follow-up Team’s latest activities, making it clear that the Team presented a study to the United States on the Assad regime’s generation of revenues through issuing passports and certifying documents at its embassies in the host countries. The Team put forth a set of proposals to prevent the regime from harnessing this revenue in its military machine.
Kado pointed to the need for the Syrian community in the United States to organize activities to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Syrian revolution in parallel with the activities that the SOC will hold in the liberated areas. (Source: SOC’s Media Department)
