Vice President of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) for Foreign Affairs, Abdulahad Astepho, sent letters to the missions of sisterly and friendly states and international organizations regarding the comprehensive reforms adopted by the General Assembly.
Astepho pointed out that the reform process began several terms ago with the aim of ensuring credible, inclusive representation in the SOC, adding that several steps have been taken for this purpose. He said that two-thirds of the General Assembly members were replaced.
Astepho added that the current presidential body completed these steps with a comprehensive reform process according to a clear methodology and plan to address weaknesses and achieve a valuable reform plan.
Moreover, Astepho indicated that the reform plan revolved around several main points, the first of which is representation. He said that a mechanism was established to co-opt trade unions as well as sports and youth federations in the liberated areas. The mechanism also aimed to redistribute the local councils so as to include the newly elected provincial councils, in addition to a mechanism for co-opting political parties, currents, and Syrian communities in the diaspora, in addition to expanding representation of the youth and women.
Astepho also touched on the reform plan in terms of membership, noting that the membership of components that no longer exist had been terminated, in addition to conducting a comprehensive evaluation process for the effectiveness of members based on several measurable criteria.
He also indicated that the reform plan included amending the SOC’s by-law and organizational work, adding that comprehensive amendments were made to the by-law and in one package with the aim of preventing obstructionism, facilitating change and development to suit the current stage.
Furthermore, Astepho pointed out that this process took place through the formation of a committee from the major components and legal experts who prepared several drafts, which were presented to the political committee, discussed and then approved by the General Assembly.
He gave an overview on the stages of the reform process, the first of which is the vote to terminate the membership of 14 inactive members. The decision was approved by 53 members of the total number of the SOC’s 83 members. He said that four members representing the local councils were replaced according to official replacement requests submitted by these elected councils.
He then spoke about the second phase of the reforms, which included the approval of a new by-law during a meeting of the General Assembly with the approval of 60 members out of 64.
He pointed out that the third phase will be implemented as soon as possible, so that the majority of the SOC’s members will be of those residing or working in the liberated areas. It will also coincide with the completion of the construction of the new SOC’s office which will carry out the SOC’s activities and tasks in the liberated areas.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
