Hadi al-Bahra, President of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC), recently met with a delegation from the U.S. State Department, which included Nicholas Granger, Director of the Syria Engagement Team, and Tyler Joyner, Political Officer for the Syria Engagement Team. Their discussions focused on the latest developments in Syria, both on the ground and politically.
The meeting was attended by Vice Presidents Abdul Majid Barakat and Dima Moussa, Secretary-General Haytham Rahmeh, and Foreign Relations Coordinator Abdulahad Astepho.
The two sides exchanged views on the political landscape and regional crises impacting Syria. Al-Bahra emphasized the absence of a comprehensive international strategy to advance a political solution in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254. This lack of strategy, he argued, has led some countries to shift toward crisis management rather than actively seeking solutions.
Al-Bahra also highlighted the ongoing suffering of Syrian refugees, particularly the continued efforts to force their return to Syria, especially in Lebanon. He stressed that a voluntary and safe return for Syrian refugees is only possible through a genuine political process that ensures lasting peace in the region.
He further underscored the importance of economic development in northern Syria, calling for increased efforts by revolutionary and opposition institutions to enhance governance in those areas. Al-Bahra noted that these regions require investments in human resources, as well as in agricultural, industrial, and commercial sectors. He urged international support from organizations focused on stability and financial institutions capable of funding small and medium-sized enterprises. He also highlighted the efforts of the Syria Recovery Trust Fund in the liberated areas, particularly in supporting farmers and food security. Al-Bahra stressed that economic development in the region is a key factor that could drive the political process forward, giving Syrians the opportunity to remain in their homeland rather than seek refuge elsewhere.
Additionally, al-Bahra discussed advancing the UN-led political process in Geneva, emphasizing that Syrians across the country continue to demand justice, freedom, and democracy. He pointed to the ongoing peaceful anti-regime demonstrations in Suwayda, now in its second year, as a testament to the Syrian people’s determination to achieve a political solution and transition to a Syria governed by a constitution that guarantees citizens’ rights and freedoms, ensuring justice under a democratic system based on political pluralism and laws that protect citizens’ dignity.
Mr Granger reaffirmed that the United States maintains a clear policy on Syria, stressing the need for a political solution that fulfills the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254. He noted that the U.S. plays a significant role in humanitarian aid and is exploring ways to support economic improvement in northern Syria, enhancing its productive capacities and reducing reliance on food aid. Granger concluded by reiterating that the United States will continue its policies, which do not support normalization with the Assad regime, lifting sanctions, or funding reconstruction efforts before clear and irreversible progress is made in the political process as outlined in UN Resolution 2254.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
