The Syrian Opposition Coalition’s (SOC) Dialogue Committee held the third consultative meeting under the title ‘Towards a National Project’ with the participation of more than 55 Syrian personalities.
The meeting came as part of a series of consultative meetings aimed at discussing the political situation and building on the papers presented in previous meetings with the aim of developing a vision for a national project and responding to the challenges facing the Syrian revolution.
The meeting brought together SOC’s President Nasr Al-Hariri, Vice-president Oqab Yahya, Coordinator of the Dialogue Committee, Abdul Ilah Fahd, and members of the Committee Salem Al-Meslet, Ahmed Tomeh, Bahjat Al-Atassi, and Muhammad Qaddah.
Al-Hariri gave a comprehensive overview on the latest on the ground and political developments, highlighting the activities that the SOC and the Syrian Interim Government are carrying out in the liberated areas.
Al-Hariri added that the recognition obtained by the SOC as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people would remain meaningless unless it is expressed by the Syrian people themselves. He said: “We sought to have a real presence amongst the social base of the Syrian revolution so as to identify their needs without the need for an intermediary and to work on meeting these needs.”
Al-Hariri, who talked via a video link from the SOC’s office in the town of Azaz in rural Aleppo, indicated that strengthening the SOC’s presence in the liberated areas marked a milestone in the recent period. He made it clear that the SOC has been present from the beginning on the ground through its executive institutions that work under his umbrella.
Participants in the meeting put forward many important ideas and suggestions that will be worked on in the upcoming meetings. President of the Syrian American Council, Zaki Al-Lababidi, gave an overview on the new US administration’s stance on Syria, pointing out that the US policy in Syria will not see significant change, especially in the near future as US President Joe Biden will focus on domestic affairs.
Al-Lababidi stressed the need for the Syrian opposition to reorganize its ranks and present an inclusive national vision to reach a political solution that fulfills the aspirations of the Syrian people for a democratic transition. He stressed that there is no solution in Syria except by establishing a transitional governing body away from Bashar al-Assad and his clique. (Source: SOC’s Media Department)
