President of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC), Hadi Al-Bahra, along with his delegation, met with a European Union delegation in Brussels, Belgium. The EU delegation included Helena Le Gall, Managing Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Alessio Cappelani, Head of Division for the Middle East, and his deputy, Sebastien Brabant. The SOC delegation also included members Yahya Maktabi and Khuzama Al-Afif.
The discussions focused on the plight of Syrian refugees globally, particularly in Lebanon. Al-Bahra urged the European Union to pressure the Lebanese government to halt the crackdown on Syrian refugees, especially those imprisoned in Roumieh prison, due to the imminent threat they face from the Assad regime, which has fabricated numerous charges against them for their political stances.
Al-Bahra emphasized that the refugee crisis cannot be resolved without a political solution in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254. He pointed out that refugees and displaced persons desire to return to Syria but are waiting for a safe environment, political transition, and the elimination of security threats posed by the regime.
During the meeting, Al-Bahra warned that allowing the Assad regime to obstruct political efforts, without sufficient international pressure and accountability, has emboldened its repression and ongoing violations. He highlighted that the regime’s impunity for numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity has perpetuated its brutal tactics. Delaying a political solution according to Security Council resolutions, Al-Bahra stressed, only prolongs the suffering of Syrians and increases the number of asylum seekers. He reiterated that the Syrian people’s fundamental demands are humanitarian, political, and constitutional, and any solution that neglects these demands cannot be sustainable.
The meeting also addressed the dire humanitarian conditions across Syria, stressing the importance of fair distribution of humanitarian aid. Al-Bahra underscored the need for international oversight of aid sent to regime-controlled areas, citing amble evidence that the regime diverts aid to militia members complicit in atrocities against Syrians.
The situation in Suwayda province was also discussed, with both sides recognizing that the ongoing peaceful demonstrations reflect Syrians’ determination for change to build a democratic Syria founded on justice, law, and political pluralism, aiming for a state of equal citizenship.
European officials reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting the political process in Syria under Security Council Resolution 2254, maintaining sanctions on the Assad regime, and rejecting reconstruction and normalization efforts until substantial progress is made in the political process.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
