President of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC), Salem al-Meslet, sent identical letters to the President of the UN General Assembly, UN Secretary-General, and President of the Security Council for the current session regarding the escalating hostilities and crimes by Russia, Iran and the Assad regime in al-Zawiya Mountain and others areas of rural Idlib and Aleppo in period between June 10 and July 18.
Al-Meslet pointed out that it is clear that the Assad regime and its backers are pursuing a strategy designed to maximize civilian casualties through double-tap strikes that target rescuers and first responders. He stressed that this kind of attacks is doubling the casualties as well as killing and injuring medical personnel and a volunteers of the civil defense.
Moreover, Al-Meslet pointed out that these brutal attacks coincide with Bashar al-Assad’s fake oath speech and the sixteenth round of Astana talks. They also coincide with the secondary and preparatory schools exams for students who were forced to flee their homes, thus depriving them of their exams. Furthermore, the escalating attacks coincide with the harvest season of crops, the main source of livelihood for the people of the region, and with the occasion of the blessed Eid al-Adha that the regime and its supporters deliberately deprive the Syrian people of its joy every year.
Al-Meslet pointed out that the credibility of the United Nations is at stake, adding that further impunity for the Assad regime will risk threatening peace and stability in the region and beyond.
Al-Meslet called on the three parties to register the memorandum as an official document, distribute it to representatives of the UN member states, condemn the hostile actions of Russia, the regime, Iran and terrorist organizations, ensure an end to these attacks, announce effective measures to force compliance with UN resolutions, ensure protection of civilians in Syria, and ensure that the necessary accountability measures are taken to prevent impunity.
He stressed the need for the UN to seek justice for the victims and oblige Russia to compensate the Syrian people for the material and moral damage it is causing in Syria.
Furthermore, al-Meslet called for working to strip the Assad regime of membership rights in international forums due to its violations of the principles and the UN Charter in accordance with Article 5 of the Charter.
A radical solution in Syria will only be through a political transition, he stressed, calling for supporting the political track through the full implementation of the Geneva Communique of 2012 and UN Security Council resolutions, especially resolutions 2118 and 2254, as well as the General Assembly resolutions, including resolution 67/262. (Source: SOC’s Media Department)
