November 12, 2024

The head of the Syrian Negotiating Commission, Dr. Badr Jamous, met yesterday, Tuesday, in the Belgian capital, Brussels, with the Director of the Middle East and North Africa Department at the Belgian Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Francois Cornet Delzius, and the Special Envoy for the Middle East at the Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Hubert Corman, and exchanged views on European strategies related to Syria, and the need to achieve results in the political solution track there.

The head of the Commission stressed, during the meeting, which was attended by members of the Commission Anas Al-Abdah and Ibrahim Brou, and the head of the Geneva office, Hussein Sabbagh, the importance of the European strategies being consistent with international resolutions related to Syria, foremost of which is the Geneva Statement and UN Resolution 2254, and the need for the European Union to adhere to implementing this resolution strictly and completely as it is the only path capable of achieving sustainable stability and security in Syria.

He warned of the lack of security, chaos, violence and corruption in Syria, the absence of objective and safe conditions for the return of Syrian refugees, the regime’s continuation of its violent, military and intimidating methods, the deteriorating economic and living conditions in Syria, the Syrians’ fear of the regime’s practices and the violence of its security services, and the impact of all of this on the Syrian and regional situation, and the fear of new waves of refugees if the Syrian regime continues to be lenient and not forced to pursue a political solution.

He stressed the need for European strategies to be, as they have been throughout the last decade, committed to human rights and the rights of peoples, and to reject dictatorships, violence and monopolization of power, and to emphasize that Syrians have the right to reach their desired state, a state of citizenship, law and justice.

The delegation of the SNC’s leadership touched on a number of issues related to Syrians, and the dangers threatening Syrian refugees in Lebanon, whether in terms of their remaining in Lebanon or their forced return to Syria, and the need for international organizations to take note of their conditions and provide them with the greatest possible assistance and support.

He also touched on the importance of justice and accountability, and activating international mechanisms that ensure accountability for perpetrators of violations against the Syrian people, in addition to the need to increase European support provided to Syrians in all regions, especially in northwestern Syria, given the dire need for support.

The two parties agreed that UN Resolution 2254 is the basis for any solution to the Syrian issue, and that the European no’s related to rejecting normalization, rejecting lifting sanctions, and rejecting reconstruction are fixed, and there is a need to search for different tactics to reach practical and effective results regarding the political process.