President of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC), Salem Al-Meslet, and President of the Syrian Negotiations Commission, Badr Jamous, met with Ethan Goldrich, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs in the US State Department and the US special envoy for Syria, in Brussels, Belgium. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the latest developments in the political process in Syria, particularly in light of the increasing rush for normalization with the Assad regime.
The meeting was attended by SOC’s Vice-President, Abdulahad Astepho, Muhammad Yahya Maktabi, a member of the political committee, and Ahmed Al-Asrawi, a member of the Syrian Negotiations Commission. President Al-Meslet expressed his gratitude to the United States for its positions and recent actions taken to counter normalization with the Assad regime and the efforts to rehabilitate it.
Both sides reaffirmed their firm rejection of normalization with the Assad regime and stressed the importance of maintaining Western sanctions against it. They emphasized that the only viable path to a solution in Syria is through the United Nations, the implementation of UN Resolution 2254, and the achievement of a comprehensive political transition to fulfill the aspirations of the Syrian people.
The discussion also addressed Iran’s detrimental role in Syria, including its interference in the affairs of several Arab countries and its control over decision-making centers in certain Arab capitals. This situation necessitates a greater involvement of the United States in Syria to confront Iranian aggression.
The importance of strengthening accountability measures and ensuring that the Assad regime is held responsible for its war crimes against the Syrian people over the past years was also highlighted during the meeting.
In response, Goldrich affirmed his country’s unwavering support for the demands of the Syrian people and reiterated the stance against lifting sanctions, normalization, and reconstruction until a political solution is achieved in Syria. This solution should be in accordance with UN resolutions and under the auspices of the United Nations.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
