Brussels, 24/07/2015 (Agence Europe) - The national coalition for the Syrian revolutionary and opposition forces (SNC) and the national coordination body for democratic change (NCC) agreed on “a roadmap for the safety of Syria” in Brussels on 22 July, it was announced by members of these two groups on Friday 24 July.
The roadmap, which still needs to be adopted by their respective competent bodies, includes the basic principles for a political resolution of the Syrian crisis. The document thus calls for total implementation of the Geneva communiqué of 30 June 2012, beginning with the establishment of a transition government. This would exercise full legislative, executive and judicial powers - including those of the president of the republic on the state bodies, institutions and ministries (including the army, armed forces, intelligence agencies, security services and police). The opposition envisages a transition period of two to three years.
Hisham Marwah, the deputy leader of the SNC, stated that he did not see any role for Bashar al-Assad or the members of the current regime in the transition government. In his view, the roadmap and cooperation between the opposition groups are the response to the international community's fear that Syria might become a failed state.
The members of the opposition underlined their unity, regretting that the international community is focusing on the unity of the opposition rather than putting pressure on the regime to negotiate.
Meeting in Brussels to “rouse [their] European friends”, the members of the opposition said they believed the European Union had a “crucial” role to play in finding a solution to the Syrian crisis. They called on the United Nations, the permanent members of the Security Council and the countries from the working group for Syria to work “diligently” for the resumption of the Geneva negotiations.
Condemning the “horrible targeting of the regime on unarmed civilians”, the Syrian opposition reaffirmed the responsibility of the United Nations and international community to halt the “genocide and criminal murders” committed against the Syrians, and to take the necessary measures to ensure the full protection of civilians.
Hadi al-Bahra, the leader of the SNC, also criticised the international community which, in his opinion, is not backing the efforts of the opposition in its fight against terrorism. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)