The Syrian Opposition Coalition’s (SOC) General Assembly concluded its 53rd session in the town of Azaz in rural Aleppo. The session included discussions of the reports of the departments, offices and committees, with special focus on the latest developments in the political process and the work of the Constitutional Committee. The Assembly set forth recommendations and proposals for the period to come.
Today’s session began with a briefing by President of the Syrian Negotiations Commission, Anas Abdah, on the developments in the political process. He talked about the difficulties facing the holding of a new round of talks by the Committee and the discussion of the other three tracks laid out in UN Resolution 2254.
Abdah stressed the need to discuss the four baskets laid out in UN Resolution 2254 as he called for adopting a new approach to ensure the implementation of UN Resolution 2254 and to reach a political solution that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people.
Moreover, Abdah pointed out that he called on the UN envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, to take practical steps to increase pressure on the Assad regime to seriously engage in an ongoing political process.
Abdah also talked about the proposal he put forward to restore the unity of the Syrian Negotiations Commission for the good of the Syrian people and a just political solution. He said that the Commission continues to work on many important issues, especially the issue of detainees, IDP and refugees, and humanitarian aid to those need.
Secretary of the SOC’s political committee, Riyadh Al-Hassan, presented a report on the work and activities of the committee in recent months.
Head of the Syrian National Commission for Detainees and Missing Persons, Yasser Al-Farhan, talked about the conditions of the Syrian prisoners in Roumieh prison in Lebanon amid the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. He said that the prisoners are being subjected to gross violations as he stressed the responsibility of the Lebanese authorities and the role of Hezbollah militias in this regard.
Then the Military Liaison Committee gave an overview on the latest developments on the ground, the Assad regime and its backers’ crimes against civilians as well as their violations of the ceasefire agreement. It also discussed attempts by the regime and its allied militias to advance in the liberated areas.
Coordinator of the SOC’s Committee of National Dialogue, Salem Al-Meslet, talked about the Committee’s activities and its efforts to reach out to the various spectrums of the Syrian society, and the results of the previous consultative meetings.
The SOC’s Department of Foreign Relations presented a report on its activities in recent months, and its consultations with foreign missions in the context of strengthening relations in order to support the Syrian revolution and the demands of the Syrian people for freedom, dignity and democracy.
SOC’s Vice-president Oqab Yahya talked about the work of Al-Jazira and Euphrates Committee and the meetings it held with representatives from the provinces of Raqqa, Hasaka and Deir Ezzor in order to form preparatory bodies that represent the people of the region and to enable them to manage their areas by themselves. (Source: SOC’s Media Department)
