President of the Syrian Opposition Coalition, Nasr al-Hariri said that the Assad regime is continuing its military build-up in northwestern Syria and still insists on pursuing a bloody military solution. He said that the regime is also carrying on with provocations and trying to advance on the liberated areas amid the spread of the coronavirus and its consequences.
In a televised speech on Monday, Al-Hariri said that the SOC and its executive institutions, especially the Syrian Interim Government and the Syrian National Army, are committed to the ceasefire agreement that was reached by Turkey and Russia, expressing his hope that the ceasefire would turn into a permanent agreement in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.
He stressed that the Syrian National Army (SNA) is still committed to the ceasefire in northwestern Syria and stands ready with Turkish army for any emergency, adding that the SNA and the Turkish army will not allow regime forces and their allied militias to advance on the liberated areas.
Al-Hariri talked about the actions of the PYD militia, from changing the educational curricula, to assassinations of tribal leaders in the region, issuance of the so-called Law No. 7 to seize the property of the internally displaced people and refugees, to conclusion of agreements to seize the country’s resources.
Moreover, he said that the measures being taken by the PYD militia are invalid and illegal, pointing out that the SOC talked to international actors and submitted notes and complaints in this regard.
With regard to the political process in Geneva, Al-Hariri said that “there must be seriousness in dealing with the political process and the constitutional process,” adding that the SOC is committed to the political process in order to force the Assad regime to sit at the negotiating table.
He pointed out that representatives of the Syrian Negotiations Commission in the Constitutional Committee participated in the third round of talks with all seriousness and made every effort to enter into substantive discussions. He added that the Assad regime and its backers do not have the desire to make any real progress and still count on a bloody military solution.
Al-Hariri went on to say that the international community is yet to exert pressure on the Assad regime to force it to engage in a political solution in accordance with UN resolution 2254.
He talked about the SOC’s work in the liberated areas, adding that SOC’s office in the liberated areas is working to implement the SOC’s vision and its plan of action.
Al-Hariri pointed out that the SOC is seeking to develop the work of its office in rural Aleppo and to open new offices concerned with women and youth affairs as well as an office for legal affairs in order to addresses the issues and solve the problems facing the civilian population.
He also talked about the SOC’s foreign missions abroad, the work of the SOC’s committees and departments, and the SOC’s plan of action for the near future. He stressed that the real legitimacy is gained through achievements on the ground, adding that the SOC is seeking to achieve the goals of the Syrian people, namely to build a new Syria as well as regain freedom and dignity. (Source: SOC’s Media Department)
