The Syrian National Coalition’s Strategic Consulting Office held an online panel discussion on the next stage in Syria and the anticipated change in the country with the participation of former Special Envoy of the Netherlands to Syria, Nikolaos van Dam.
Keynote speakers in the discussion, which was moderated by Head of the Strategic Consulting Office, Ahmed Ramadan, included members of the Syrian Coalition, experts and researchers in the political and strategic fields.
The discussion was held under the title ‘Syria and the anticipated change in accordance with international policies.’ The former Dutch envoy and orientalist talked about the plight of the Assad regime and the internal rifts that have dramatically climaxed in recent weeks. He stressed that the regime continues to commit crimes against the Syrian people without any form of deterrence only to cling to power.
Van Dam pointed to the role of Russia and Iran in aiding and abetting the regime’s crimes against the Syrian people and in shielding it internationally by blocking action on the UN Security Council and preventing it from taking any decision to condemn the regime and hold it accountable. He pointed out that Russian and Iran now have total control over key state institutions in Syria and dictate its decisions.
He touched on the international calls for change in Syria, ending the suffering of the Syrian people, stopping crimes against civilians, and releasing detainees. He also talked about the importance of the latest report by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which confirmed the regime’s responsibility for three chemical weapons attacks on the town of Latamina in rural Hama and about the Caesar Act.
Furthermore, Van Dam stressed that a political solution was possible several years ago, adding that the regime is to blame for the stalled political process. He stressed that a political solution through the United Nations and the enforcement of international resolutions, most importantly UN Security Council resolution 2254, is the only way to put an end to the conflict in Syria and ending the bloodshed that has been ongoing for nine years. (Source: SOC’s Media Department)
