In a statement released today, the political committee said that many answers to questions and inquiries raised during the meeting with de Mistura’s team fell short of dispelling concerns about many of outstanding issues.
The political committee welcomed the team of UN envoy to Syria Mr. Staffan de Mistura. The team explained the course of implementing the points contained de Mistura’s July 29th UN report, also explaining the presidential statement issued by the UN Security Council on August 17.
The political committee outlines its reservation about Mr. de Mistura’s plan, summarized in the following points:
“First, it is clear that the proposed course of action will be lengthy and cannot be adopted due to ongoing bloodshed and destruction by the Assad regime. Assad will continue to benefit throughout this period and stay afloat by consolidating its gains on the ground, as we are currently witnessing and continue to witness.”
“Secondly, the draft of the plan does not meet the objective of the Geneva I communique and the UN Security Council resolution 2118 calling for the formation of a transitional governing body with full powers which will expedite the adoption of an executive plan for the Geneva I communique and to unify the teams to meet all objectives.”
The political committee also stated that “the international community continues to evade facing the core problem, namely how to achieve a radical and comprehensive political transition without the presence of Bashar al-Assad and his inner circle in the transitional period and beyond.”
“Thirdly, while there are no longer any doubts about the legitimacy of the forces that represent the revolution and the opposition, there have been attempts to distort the will of the Syrian people through selectivity in choosing its representatives, like what happened during consultation meetings in Geneva in May. Indeed, a political process cannot be successful unless it demonstrates integrity, impartiality and credibility regarding the issue of Syrian representation, eliminating all outside influence and objectives.”
Moreover, the political committee stresses that the majority of documents laid out by forces of the revolution and the opposition agree on a unified vision for a political solution and on the need to achieve a radical and comprehensive political transition that refuses the continuation or the return to tyranny.
The Syrian Coalition’s political committee maintains contact with the United Nations to clarify outstanding issues. It will adhere to the letter and spirit of the decisions approved by the Syrian Coalition’s General Assembly reflecting the aspirations of various components of Syrian people. Moreover, the political committee will discuss the outcomes of these meetings and will present the political situation to the General Assembly’s upcoming meeting to approve a mandate.
While it reaffirms its adherence to the United Nations’ role in bringing about a political solution in Syria, it emphasizes the need for UN to play its natural role in bringing war criminals and perpetrators of crimes against humanity to account. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
