The head of the Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (SMDK), Salem al-Meslet, spoke about the issues surrounding the work of the Constitutional Committee, the efforts by the opposition for a political solution to the Syrian conflict, the latest situation in Idlib, and the return of Syrians to their country.
Al-Meslet said he met with the United Nations Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, in Istanbul on September 14. “No date was announced for the new round of talks of the Constitutional Committee,” he stated.
Regarding the work of the Syrian Constitutional Committee, which has convened five times since October 30, 2019, al-Meslet said the talks failed due to the uncompromising attitude and lack of seriousness on behalf of the Assad regime.
Al-Meslet also criticized the international community for focusing solely on humanitarian issues and refraining from showing the necessary interest in the political solution process. He urged the international delegations and Pedersen to act more seriously on this issue.
Highlighting that they had meetings with many international organizations as well as officials from various countries, al-Meslet argued that SMDK’s activities contribute to the political solution process.
The SMDK met with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on September 9. In the coming days, they will visit New York to have meetings with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and officials from other countries.
Al-Meslet stated that SMDK institutions were also meeting the needs of civilians in areas under the control of the opposition.
“All Syrians want to return to their country if a safe environment is maintained in Syria. No one returns to die or be detained. We have to obey the laws in the countries we are in.”
Al-Meslet was elected as the chairperson of the SMDK in the ordinary general assembly held in Istanbul on July 12.
