President of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC), Nasr Al-Hariri, held a virtual meeting with the permanent representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the United Nations and the President of the UN Security Council for the month of November, Inga Rhonda King, and discussed with her the latest developments in Syria.
Al-Hariri stressed the need to reach a political solution through the full implementation of UN Resolution 2254, and in accordance with the specified timeline. He said that the resolution must be implemented in the following order: Establishing a credible, non-sectarian, inclusive system of rule, drafting a new constitution, and holding free and fair elections under the supervision of the United Nations and with the participation of all Syrians, including those in the diaspora, in a safe and neutral environment.
Al-Hariri pointed out that the Assad regime insists on pursuing a military solution, citing the regime’s recent attempts to storm Dara’a city in clear violation of the truce agreements in the region.
“The Assad regime is sending a clear message that it will continue to pursue the policies of the mass forced displacement and demographic change.”
Moreover, al-Hariri said that the Assad regime and Russian Ministry of Defense sought to hold a conference on the return of refugees even though they are mainly responsible for the mass forced displacement and refugee crisis. He stressed that the criminal responsible for the crime has no right to organize such conference.
He also stressed that the conference is nothing but an attempt to sponsor a new crime against the Syrian people as it is aimed at rehabilitating the murderous regime.
Al-Hariri also stressed that the SOC believes that a political solution is the basis for ensuring sustainable security and stability in Syria, given that they will enable the safe, voluntary and dignified return of refugees and displaced persons to their original areas in accordance with UN Resolution 2254 and the UNHCR standards.
Furthermore, al-Hariri praised the importance of the General Assembly’s 2020 report and the GA’s adoption of a draft resolution to allow the reopening of the Salam and Al-Arabiya border crossings as was stipulated in UN Resolution 2165 in order to deliver humanitarian aid to those in need in Syria.
He stressed that the US and European sanctions are one of the means of pressure on the Assad regime to force it to seriously engage in the political process in accordance with the relevant international decisions. He denied claims that these sanctions are the main cause of the deteriorating economic situation in the country and the suffering of civilians.
Al-Hariri pointed out that these sanctions target the regime and its clique as well as those involved in war crimes against civilians. They exclude humanitarian aid, medical and food supplies.
For her part, Rhonda King expressed her country’s support to reach a political solution through a Syria-owned, Syria-led political process and in accordance with UN Resolution 2254. She expressed her deep concern about the situation of detainees, especially women and children, and the suffering of the people who do not know anything about the fate of their loved ones.
She lamented that no progress has been made to this day in the issue of detainees, adding that the release of detainees and the ceasefire are one of the confidence-building measures.
Rhonda King also said that her country always seeks to take neutral stances and depends on evidence in its decisions and actions. She pointed out that despite the small size of her country, they have a sizeable Syrian community that allowed them to get acquainted with the Syrian culture. (Source: SOC’s Media Department)
