President of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC), Hadi Al-Bahra, delivered a speech on the occasion of Christmas and New Year 2024, in which he extended his blessings and congratulations to all the Syrian people and Christians in particular. He wished for the upcoming year to be one of goodness, blessings, and peace for them and for all the peoples of the world.
In his speech, Al-Bahra emphasized that the Syrian people, despite the suffering and difficult times they are going through, still aspire to a decent life in a state based on the principles of justice, freedom, dignity, and equal citizenship. He expressed the hope of building a new Syria for all Syrian women and men and achieving the necessary conditions for the voluntary and dignified return of all displaced people and refugees.
Al-Bahra reiterated that the Syrian people are enduring inhumane conditions and, like other people around the world, deserve to live in peace and security. He urged for support in all ways to alleviate their suffering and provide them with the opportunity to build a better future and live in stability and peace.
Al-Bahra stressed the SOC’s strong belief in peace and its ongoing commitment to peaceful means, citing the peaceful nature of the Syrian revolution in its beginnings, and how it continues to unfold peacefully in Suwayda province and other parts of the country.
He highlighted the SOC’s efforts to bring peace and stability to Syria, emphasizing that stability and the reunification of Syria—both the land and the people—can only be achieved through a political transition in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254. Al-Bahra underlined the importance of consolidating the values of coexistence to enhance the unity of the Syrian people across all sects and components. He emphasized the need to improve the standard of living for all citizens in all regions, with the active participation of both Syrian men and women.
Al-Bahra called on the Syrian people to continue working together to build a Syria where everyone lives side by side, emphasizing the goal of establishing a modern democratic state based on justice, the rule of law, and equal citizenship. He urged for building a state that guarantees the rights of all citizens without discrimination, and creating a homeland that accommodates all its people and celebrates their diversity as the greatest asset for a prosperous future.
Concluding his speech, Al-Bahra expressed solidarity with Palestine, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, and its people who seek peace but do not currently experience it. He renewed the call to stop aggression against Gaza, support efforts to secure legitimate rights, establish peace in the region, and achieve international peace and security.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
