Press Release

Syrian Coalition

March 13, 2015

Following the European Parliament’s resolution on 12 March on attacks and kidnappings by ISIL in the Middle East, the Syrian National Coalition’s Representative to the Benelux and the EU, Mouaffaq Nyrabia said:

“The Syrian National Coalition wholeheartedly condemns attacks and kidnappings against Syria’s minorities by ISIL. As the Syrian conflict enters its fifth year, we are appalled by the actions of ISIL against all Syrians, including religious and ethnic minorities, as well as recent kidnappings of members of our Assyrian community.

“ISIL and other extremist groups have been allowed to expand their terror across Syria only as a result of actions taken by the Assad regime. As illustrated this week by the new range of EU sanctions against Assad regime officials trading oil with ISIL, the nexus between the regime and the extremists is only growing stronger. They are the two sides of the same coin which requires a single comprehensive solution. The first step is the urgent need for protection for all Syrians from ISIL’s atrocities and the brutality of the Assad regime.

“The Syrian National Coalition is grateful for the efforts of the international community and the European Union. However the situation in Syria is deteriorating at an alarming rate and the spillover from the crisis is now not just felt in the region but also across European capitals. A lasting solution to the conflict can only be achieved through a comprehensive strategy that supports Syria’s moderate forces to defeat ISIL and in parallel a political transition process that removes the root cause of the crisis – Bashar al Assad.

"The Syrian National Coalition shares and is fighting for the same values that Europe enjoys and defends – freedom, human rights and democracy. We reaffirm our commitments to a democratic, pluralistic and inclusive Syria for all Syrians. In this regard, the Syrian Coalition will redouble its efforts to work closely with our international partners in bringing about a political solution that delivers these goals.”