The President of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC), Hadi al-Bahra, emphasized that the coalition’s most crucial task at this stage is to ensure that a national conference is held on solid foundations, resulting in a constituent assembly representing all segments of the Syrian people. The coalition will then hand over its files to this assembly to oversee the transitional phase and transfer power to the Syrian people, allowing them to choose their leaders through free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections under the new constitution.
In an interview on Syria TV, Bahra stated that the SOC possesses numerous files that must be handed over to the Syrian state. Among the most important is its founding membership in the Syria Recovery Trust Fund.
Bahra clarified that the SOC is not a political party, nor has it sought power or proposed itself as a participant in upcoming elections. Its role is to transfer authority to the Syrian people. The coalition’s role will end immediately after a constituent assembly is elected, as this assembly will represent the aspirations of the Syrian people and be responsible for achieving them.
He noted that once this assembly is established, the coalition could dissolve itself in coordination with the current administration to ensure no critical privileges or files are lost, which would help the new administration bear its responsibilities and provide some services to the Syrian people.
Bahra called on all Syrians to focus on unity rather than division and to work together by sharing the burdens to face the challenges that confront the Syrian people after the fall of the Assad regime.
He explained that the national conference would result in a transitional government and a constituent assembly. The assembly would then form a constitutional committee to begin drafting the constitution, benefiting from all the dialogues and papers produced by Syrians over the past years.
Bahra highlighted the need to learn from similar international experiences, avoiding the negative factors that affected them. He stressed that the transitional government and the national conference must adhere to principles of inclusivity and credibility, avoiding sectarian foundations to gain the Syrian people’s trust and meet their aspirations.
He affirmed the coalition’s readiness, with all its components, to engage positively and contribute to accelerating the political transition process. This includes cooperating with other Syrian parties to enhance security, stability, and social harmony, and addressing the significant challenges in healthcare, education, business, and social services.
Bahra described recent diplomatic visits to Damascus as positive indicators that should be built upon to secure official recognition of the transitional government. This government, set to be formed in March, will oversee operations throughout the transitional period. He added that such recognition hinges on several legal steps requiring the cooperation of all Syrians, who must work together to navigate these challenges and reach safety.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
