President of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC), Hadi Al-Bahra, reaffirmed the SOC’s commitment to a political solution as its steadfast position, emphasizing that the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2254 of 2015 is the only viable solution to end the humanitarian tragedy faced by the Syrian people and transition the country toward sustainable peace.
In an interview with Global Justice, Al-Bahra noted that no party can achieve a military resolution in Syria due to the presence of various military forces with differing interests on Syrian territory. He added that these forces will not leave Syria without a political agreement, the framework of which has already been outlined in Security Council Resolution 2254. Al-Bahra explained that UN Resolution 2254 offers a realistic and applicable solution that resonates with the Syrian people, encouraging them to stay in their homeland and convincing refugees and displaced persons to return voluntarily.
Al-Bahra stressed that implementing this resolution is the only way to reunify Syria, both its land and people, and to expel foreign militias through international consensus, eventually leading to the withdrawal of regular foreign forces. He emphasized that these factors make it essential for all parties to adhere to the principle that implementing UN Resolution 2254 is the only sustainable solution, as any alternative would be temporary and lack the necessary components to move Syria toward lasting peace.
Al-Bahra also pointed out that Turkish policies prioritize the interests of the Turkish state and people, as is the duty of any government. Similarly, he stated that the SOC’s duty is to prioritize the interests of the Syrian people and Syria as a whole.
He clarified the need to distinguish between means and goals, explaining that Ankara’s objectives include eliminating terrorist separatist organizations and militias that pose a direct threat to its security—a goal that aligns with the national interests of the Syrian people. The second objective, according to Al-Bahra, is to encourage Syrian refugees residing in Türkiye to voluntarily return to Syria and to motivate millions of displaced people in border areas to return to their original places of residence, provided that appropriate conditions and guarantees are in place.
Al-Bahra further explained that Türkiye’s third goal is to ensure the security and stability of its border areas with Syria by combating terrorism, drug trafficking, and illegal immigration. He emphasized that these goals can only be achieved through sustainable security, stability, and peace in Syria as a whole, a goal that aligns with Syrian national interests. No one wants Syria to be a launching point for activities that threaten neighboring countries, nor do they want neighboring countries to be a base for activities that endanger Syria and its people.
The ultimate goal for Türkiye, Al-Bahra noted, is to rebuild good neighborly relations with Syria, both as a state and as a people, to enhance economic relations and trade, and to reopen transit trade routes between Europe and Arab countries via Türkiye. This would enable Türkiye to benefit from the reconstruction phase in Syria once a sustainable political solution is reached—a goal that also serves Syrian national interests, as reconstruction efforts will require contributions from friendly countries and international organizations.
Al-Bahra stressed that Türkiye’s expectations from its policies are the achievement of these goals, not merely “normalization” for the sake of normalization. He agreed that achieving these objectives in a sustainable manner is intrinsically linked to the implementation of a political solution in line with Security Council Resolution 2254, through a viable political negotiation process between the forces of the revolution, the opposition, and the regime.
He highlighted that a recent meeting with the Turkish Foreign Minister demonstrated significant support for dialogue and realistic negotiations aimed at paving the way for a comprehensive political solution in Syria, based on Security Council Resolution 2254.
Al-Bahra emphasized that any political solution must be convincing to the vast majority of Syrians, implementable with clear and irreversible guarantees, and lead to sustainable security, stability, and peace. He stressed that these are the foundations of a realistic and logical solution, and that they require the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 2254, as it is the only sustainable path forward.
He warned that any unrealistic solution—one that ignores the fundamental problems, grievances, and aspirations that led the Syrian people to revolt—will ultimately fail. The current situation in Syria, Al-Bahra argued, is proof of this, as partial solutions that ignored the reality and logic of the Syrian people’s demands have failed to achieve their goals.
Al-Bahra questioned the current state of areas retaken by the regime through temporary solutions. He asked whether security and stability have been achieved in Daraa, Homs, Aleppo, or other regions, whether humanitarian needs have decreased despite reduced violence, whether the economy has recovered, and whether Syrians have stopped emigrating or seeking refuge abroad. He also questioned whether refugees and displaced persons have been convinced to voluntarily return to their homeland, and whether Syria has been reunified, both in land and people.
Al-Bahra reiterated that any solution that overlooks the root causes of the Syrian uprising or the factors that led to foreign intervention in Syria will only prolong the suffering of the Syrian people, further weaken state institutions, and exacerbate the situation in the country. Such a solution, he argued, would fail to address the problems related to the Syrian crisis and could destabilize regional and international security.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
