The 71st regular meeting of the General Assembly of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) was held in the local council of Afrin in the Aleppo countryside on Sunday. The meeting, named after Muhammad Faris as a tribute to the deceased Syrian astronaut’s role as a patriot and revolutionary, commenced with a minute of silence for Faris and other fallen heroes of the Syrian Revolution.
Reports were presented on the activities of the President, his deputies, the Secretary-General, departments, working groups, offices, representations, and the Syrian Interim Government. The Assembly deliberated on the latest developments on the ground, the political process, the conditions of Syrian refugees, and the violations they face, particularly in Lebanon.
SOC’s President Hadi Al-Bahra emphasized the significance of amendments made to the reporting systems of the General Secretariat, which are now presented monthly to the political committee to enhance administrative and financial transparency. He noted that this experience will be applied to all SOC-affiliated institutions to improve their effectiveness.
Attendees discussed the current challenges in the political process, stalled due to the Assad regime’s refusal to engage, and highlighted the role of the United Nations and UN envoy Geir Pedersen in revitalizing the process and initiating a new round of the Constitutional Committee.
The attendees underscored the pressing challenges confronting Syrian refugees and the need for urgent measures to provide political and legal support for their protection. They stressed the importance of international partnerships in addressing refugee issues and reviewed new strategies for dealing with refugee crises, emphasizing the necessity of continuous monitoring and updating plans in response to new developments.
Activities undertaken by SOC’s representatives in various countries were reviewed. The Assembly also addressed the activities of SOC’s working groups, with particular emphasis on the Legal and Human Rights Working Group’s studies and proposals for amending laws in the liberated areas.
Discussions also centered on the issuance of legislation by multiple parties in the liberated areas, leading to a state of chaos requiring urgent attention. Proposals developed by SOC’s legal committee, in collaboration with the Legal and Human Rights Working Group, will be presented at the next general assembly meeting for further deliberation.
The assembly further reviewed the work and activities of the Syrian Women’s Authority, including workshops held in Turkish states of Sanliurfa and Gaziantep, and in Azaz, Syria. Plans were initiated for the establishment of additional branch offices to accommodate large gatherings of Syrian women.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
