A delegation of the Syrian Coalition on Wednesday concluded a visit to Brussels where they stressed the need for a more active role by the European Union to find a political solution in Syria. A solution is vital to put an end to the suffering of the Syrian people and salvage the political process and the cessation of hostilities agreement.
The delegation, which was led by President of the Syrian Coalition Anas Alabdah, met with a number of EU officials, including EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini. Among the issues the delegation raised during the meeting were the Assad regime’s obstruction of humanitarian aid deliveries to besieged areas; its continued targeting of civilians and health facilities; and its refusal to release detainees.
The delegation called for supporting the Syrian interim government which seeks to meet the needs of civilians in liberated areas, stressing that the government is non-partisan and will provide services to all Syrians regardless of their political affiliations.
Moreover, the delegation stressed the need for the United Nations to deliver humanitarian aid to all besieged areas across Syria in accordance with the latest statement by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG).
The delegation also called for greater focus on the issue of detainees in Assad’s prisons, stressing the need for exercising pressure on the Assad regime to stop extrajudicial executions and court martials as well as to stop referring detainees to military courts and the terrorism court.
The delegation made it clear that any further delay in highlighting the file of the detainees threatens the lives of tens of thousands of detainees in Assad’s prisons.
The delegation also met with officials in the European External Action Service, including its Deputy Secretary General for Political Affairs Helga Schmid and its managing director Nick Westcott as well as with representatives at the European Union Council.
The delegation also met with head of the Group of the European People’s Party in the European Parliament Manfred Weber, President of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament Gianni Pittella and head of the EU Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Elmar Brok.
The delegation also met with director of the Office of the Belgian Foreign Minister Affairs, president and CEO of the International Crisis Group Jean-Marie Guéhenno and with officials in the European Commission. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
