The Syrian Negotiations Commission (SNC) held its periodic meeting in Geneva from November 17 to 20, discussing the latest developments in Syria, updates on the political process, and the impact of regional tensions.
In a statement, the SNC highlighted that the Israeli occupation’s hostile actions have caused tens of thousands of Syrians, Lebanese, and Palestinians to flee to Syria to escape bombardments and conflict. The commission called for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, urging the implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
The SNC emphasized that the root cause of the region’s current turmoil lies in the international community’s failure to enforce its resolutions concerning Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine.
The commission condemned the recent bombings in Idlib and Aleppo provinces, which resulted in civilian casualties and injuries.
It underscored the international community’s responsibility to fulfill its commitments, particularly by pressuring the Assad regime to release all detainees and disclose the fate of the missing. The SNC dismissed the regime’s recent amnesty laws as deceptive and ineffective.
As part of its activities, the SNC participated in an extensive workshop that included its members, experts, civil society organizations, and representatives of the Syrian-American community. The workshop aimed to examine the obstacles, challenges, and opportunities facing Syrians in their pursuit of a comprehensive political solution that ensures a political transition in line with the 2012 Geneva Communiqué of 2012 and UN Security Council Resolution 2254.
The workshop addressed the stagnation in the political process, regional dynamics related to Iranian influence in Syria, normalization efforts with the Assad regime, and shifts in international stances. Participants discussed the need for a safe and neutral environment as part of a comprehensive political solution, as outlined in the 2012 Geneva Communiqué of 2012 and UN Security Council Resolutions 2118 and 2254.
The workshop also explored the plight of Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), viewing it as both a humanitarian crisis and a legal and political issue. Discussions included the state of education in Syria, challenges facing the education sector, and early recovery efforts in the context of the political process, along with associated challenges and opportunities.
Additionally, participants examined international sanctions, their objectives, and their effects on the Syrian people, as well as the Assad regime’s and its allies’ methods of circumventing these sanctions. The session also addressed the regional war’s impact on the production and trafficking of Captagon by the Assad regime, the political exploitation of this trade, and its social and economic repercussions.
Toward the end of the workshop, attendees discussed the implications of the U.S. elections on Syria, as well as the main challenges and potential opportunities for Syria’s revolutionary and opposition forces.
The meeting concluded with a series of actionable recommendations, which the SNC plans to study and utilize in its ongoing efforts to advance the political process and achieve the desired outcomes that fulfill the aspirations of the Syrian people.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
