Press release
Syrian Opposition Coalition
March 5, 2022
The Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) welcomes the meeting of that representatives of the Arab League, Egypt, the European Union, France, Germany, Iraq, Jordan, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States held in Washington on March 3rd to discuss the situation in Syria.
The timing of the meeting was very important as it followed the meeting of the UN General Assembly in which peace-loving countries united against the Russian regime’s invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile, the Assad regime sided with Putin, thus confirming its dependence on the Russian regime and its loss of any sense of sovereignty.
The SOC welcomes the participants’ commitment to seeking a political solution to the Syrian crisis in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254. It also commends their acknowledgment of the continuing suffering of the Syrian people, their calls for a nationwide ceasefire and an unfettered access to life-saving humanitarian assistance through all routes, and their continued pressure to hold the Assad regime accountable for its crimes.
Moreover, the SOC reaffirms its position that the UN Special Envoy’s “step-for-step” approach is a departure from the implementation of UN resolution 2254. It is unacceptable to grant the Assad regime financial, political or diplomatic incentives in return for implementing the humanitarian provisions of UN resolution 2254, or in return for its serious engagement in the work the Constitutional Committee which is being disrupted by the regime. Sanctions must be ratcheted up to force the Assad regime to seriously engage in the political solution.
The SOC renews its calls on the UN Special Envoy to re-launch direct negotiations on all provisions of UN resolution 2254, especially the formation of a Transitional Governing Body, which would pave the way for reaching a genuine political transition in Syria.
