The Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) held a virtual preparatory meeting with national, political and civil personalities from al-Hasaka province as part of a series of meetings the Jazira and Euphrates Committee has been conducting regarding the eastern region.
The meeting brought together SOC’s President Nasr Al-Hariri, Vice-president Oqab Yahya, Secretary-General Abdelbaset Abdullatif, Coordinator of the Department of Foreign Relations Abdulahad Asteipho, members of the political committee Yasser Al-Farhan, Abdullah Kaddo, Salem Al-Muslet, members of the General Assembly Muhammad Wali and Abdelbaset Hamou, and more than 30 personalities representing various components of the province.
The meeting is one of three meetings that the SOC is holding in preparation of an inclusive conference for the eastern region with the aim of forming a body representing the people of the eastern region and their demands.
Al-Hariri gave an overview on the general situation in Syria, prospects of the political process, and developments in the eastern region. He stressed the importance of al-Hasaka province which represents a mini Syria with all its religious and ethnic diversity.
Al-Hariri pointed out that al-Hasaka province has endured various grievances at hands of the Assad regime and the PYD militia. He also talked about the intra-Kurdish dialogue between the Kurdish National Council and the PYD as well as the PKK terrorist group’s crimes against the people of the region and its disruption of dialogue and negotiations, which poses a threat to the future of Syria, the unity of the Syrian people, and the integrity of Syrian territory.
He said that the SOC is following this dialogue and waiting to see its outcome, stressing that the SOC is seeking to ensure the return of the displaced people to their areas of origin; enable them to manage their affairs by themselves; and ensure they can participate in the planning process.
Yahya pointed to the need to strengthen communication with civil actors, political bodies, and national personalities from al-Hasaka province, adding that the SOC is working to conduct more consultations and discussions on the general situation in Syria.
Yahya stressed the importance of drawing up a common vision and proceeding according to a clear roadmap that is consistent with the general line of the Syrian revolution and expressing the essential demands of the Syrian people.
Participants stressed the importance of formulating a social contract that guarantees peaceful coexistence and proceeding from a national standpoint that rejects dictatorship and terrorism.
They put forward a set of suggestions for the months to come as they stressed the importance of holding further meetings according to a clear program in order to reach real, effective participation with the SOC. (Source: SOC’s Media Department)
