The Syrian Coalition’s delegation to Egypt, headed by Hadi al-Bahra, discussed the plan of the UN envoy to Syria Staffen De Mistura with Samih Shoukri, Egypt’s foreign minister and Nabil Al-Arabi, Secretary General of the Arab League in Cairo. Bahra describes the plan as not offering a comprehensive solution to the conflict, expressing fears that the Assad regime might exploit the “freeze” plan to withdraw his troops from Aleppo and redeploy them elsewhere. He calls on the Arab League to” assume its responsibilities in front of the ongoing tragedy in Syria the agreed upon reference to Syrian Syrian dialogue. The Syrian Coalition’s delegation also discussed the Syrian community’s situation to settle Syrian graduate students and those admitted to Egyptian universities still waiting for their visas. The delegation furthermore called for expediting the reunification of Syrian families in Egypt and discussed unsuccessful Europe-bound Syrian immigrants forced to remain or returned to Egypt illegally. On Friday, the Syrian Coalition informed Russia that it will lead the dialogue with all national political trends and civil organizations exchanging views to find a political solution to the conflict. “We and other national political currents share the same vision and have the same goals of political transition to democracy and pluralism. We reaffirm that the Syrian Coalition is open to dialogue with all Syrian political currents and blocs that seek to discuss the mechanism of the political transition which is centered on the election of a Constituent Assembly and the rewriting of the Constitution,” Bahra said. Moreover, Bahra stresses “we agree with the Russians that Geneva I protocols are the framework and basis of any future negotiations.” He also pointed out that Russia, Egypt and the UN envoy De Mistura have not yet proposed any written initiatives for a political solution, but are seeking to revive negotiations and have pledged to support dialogue among Syrians. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
