President of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC), Hadi Al-Bahra, and his accompanying delegation participated in the fifth general conference of the Syrian Tribal Council, held Monday in the town of Sajo in the Aleppo countryside, under the title: “Towards a Free, Unified Syria Free of Terrorism, Tyranny, and Extremism.”
The SOC delegation included Vice President Abdul Majeed Barakat, Secretary-General Haytham Rahmeh, members of the political committee and General Assembly, President of the Syrian Negotiations Commission Badr Jamous, and several members of the Commission. Also present were ministers of the Syrian Interim Government, the Turkmen Council represented by its president, Faisal Jumaa, representatives of local councils, associations, unions, notables, and prominent revolution figures.
In his speech at the conference, Al-Bahra emphasized the important and pioneering role of Syrian tribes in preserving the social fabric and defending the unity of Syria, its land, and its people. He stated that strengthening the role of the Syrian Tribal Council aligns with the interests of the Syrian revolution and the demands of the Syrian people for freedom, dignity, and the establishment of a new, free, democratic system that respects human rights.
Al-Bahra pointed out that Syria needs the efforts of all its people, institutions, and organizations to bring about the desired change. He highlighted the ongoing challenges surrounding Syria and the continued suffering of its people due to failed international policies. He stressed that building a bright future for Syria begins with the liberated areas, and there is a collective responsibility to create a successful model in these areas with the help, expertise, and resources of Syrians themselves. He urged facing challenges and difficulties head-on, rather than evading them.
Al-Bahra highlighted the necessity of changing the Syrian reality to influence the policies of active countries worldwide and elevate the Syrian crisis on the international agenda. He emphasized that building a bright future for Syria begins with the liberated areas and that there is a collective responsibility to build a good model for success in these areas with the help, expertise, and resources of the Syrians themselves. Challenges and difficulties need to be confronted, not evaded.
Al-Bahra stressed the need to change the Syrian reality as the most appropriate way to influence global policies and draw greater attention to the Syrian crisis, pushing major stakeholders towards effective policies to achieve a political solution by fully implementing UN Resolution 2254.
Al-Bahra added that the SOC’s external meetings confirm that implementing UN Resolution 2254 is the way out of the crises ravaging Syria, serving as the gateway to fulfilling the aspirations of the Syrian people and the only road map leading to a sustainable solution. He noted that the SOC conveys the Syrian people’s demands for solutions to end the political deadlock and move towards actual implementation rather than merely managing the crisis.
Al-Bahra stated that the SOC, during international meetings, emphasizes that implementing UN Resolution 2254 is not only in Syria’s interest but also benefits the region and the world. He noted that the Assad regime is responsible for the spread of illicit drugs in the region and globally, the proliferation of sectarian and terrorist militias, the Syrian refugee crisis, and numerous humanitarian crises. Al-Bahra stressed that resolving these crises is closely linked to achieving political transition in accordance with Security Council Resolutions 2254 and 2118 and the Geneva Communique of 2012.
Al-Bahra discussed the PYD militia’s efforts, affiliated with the terrorist PKK organization, to re-administratively divide regions and municipalities northeast of the Euphrates River. He warned that the PYD’s staging of so-called elections to legitimize this division is rejected by the overwhelming majority of the people and political parties in those regions.
In this context, Al-Bahra emphasized that any social contract or constitution must be the product of all Syrians, regardless of their backgrounds, affiliations, components, and regions, formulated at a broad national level, and not according to regional, partisan, or sub-national interests.
Al-Bahra concluded his speech by emphasizing that the SOC will exert all efforts and energies to meet the legitimate aspirations of Syrian women and men through a credible political solution that restores Syria’s sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity in accordance with UN resolutions, particularly Security Council Resolutions 2254 and 2118.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
