The Syrian Coalition’s Department of Foreign Relations held its periodic meeting with representatives of the friendly countries at the Coalition’s headquarters in Istanbul on Saturday and discussed with them the latest political and on the ground developments.
President of the Syrian Coalition Abdurrahman Mustafa said that the displaced people and Syrian refugees suffer dire conditions as a result of the recent storms. He said: “More than half of the population of Syria are forcibly displaced from their homes inside and outside Syria. We hope assistance will be provided to residents of the camps.”
President Mustafa reiterated that the Assad regime has chosen military solution since day one, which has so fair failed. The Assad regime lost control of Syrian territory in general and is unable to provide basic services to people in the areas under its control.”
“The Assad regime has committed the most horrific crimes against the Syrian people claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent people. These crimes will live on in history,” President Mustafa said. He pointed out that attempts by some countries to restore ties with the Assad regime after all the crimes he committed are nothing but failed attempts to grant legitimacy to the Assad regime.
With regards to developments in the political process, Mustafa said: “We are optimistic with the start of the work of the new UN envoy following the deadlock during the mandate of the former envoy.” He pointed out that the recent remarks by Geir Pederson about an inclusive political process is encouraging.
“The Assad regime will try to block the political process as it is fully aware that it will lead to its demise. We in the Syrian Coalition insist that the only option is the implementation of UN resolutions through a comprehensive political process meeting the aspirations of the Syrian people.”
Moreover, President Mustafa stressed the importance of implementing the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, especially resolution 2254, adding that the constitutional process must lead to a political process as he stressed the need to create a safe and neutral environment through the transitional process.
He pointed out that he hoped that the international community would have the will to resolve the Syrian crisis through UN resolutions and practical steps. He called for steps to be taken regarding the constitutional committee which he said must be formed according to international standards and be balanced, comprehensive and credible as a prelude the comprehensive political process in Syria.
He also said that the Iranians would not be forced out of Syria without the implementation of UN resolution. “The terrorist organizations were found with the support of the Assad and Iranian regimes. As long Assad is there, we will not be able to fight terrorism or oust the Iranian forces from Syria. There must be a political solution.”
President Mustafa pointed out that the Arab countries’ normalization of relations with the Assad regime at this stage would disrupt the UN-led political process as well as the implementation of the Geneva Communique of 2012 and the relevant Security Council resolutions.
As for the buffer zone to be established in northeastern Syria, President Mustafa voiced support for the Turkish-American agreement to successfully implement the roadmap in Manbij and east of the Euphrates. “The buffer zone will be positive for the return of refugees and the displaced people.”
President Mustafa pointed out that the Coalition’s stance is clear with regards to the fight against terrorist organizations such as the PYD, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, PKK, and the Iranian militias. He stressed the importance of Turkish-American coordination during the withdrawal of the US forces from eastern Syria to prevent the Assad regime, the Iranians, Russians, and terrorist organizations from trying to fill the vacuum which will ensue.
Head of the Syrian Negotiations Commission, Nasr al-Hariri, also participated in the meeting via a video link. He noted that the political process today returned to the United Nations after Russia had drawn it to suit its agenda over the past two years due to the absence of the international actors in the Syrian file.
Al-Hariri stressed that the political solution in Syria should be through the full implementation of the Geneva Communique of 2012 and UNSC resolution 2254 without ignoring any provision of it. He pointed out that there are two factors without which the constitutional committee will be meaningless, which are confidence-building measures through the release of detainees and the cessation of shelling and the creation of a safe and neutral environment. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department + Baladi News Network)