Communique of the 19th General Assembly meeting

Final Communique

National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces

February 17, 2015

The General Assembly concluded its 19th meeting which was held on February 13, 14 and 15 in Istanbul. The meeting discussed the situation on the ground in Syria in general and in Douma and Dara’a in particular, and also discussed political tracts, and affairs of the Syrian Coalition’s mission abroad and of the interim government. 150,000 USD were budgeted as urgent aid to Dara’a province.

The conferees reviewed projects and suggestions put forward by Interim Minister of Defense Major General Salim Idris and the FSA’s Chief of Staff Brigadier General Abd al-Karim al-Ahmad to develop the military efforts. They also submitted a report enhanced with maps detailing the situation on the ground in Syria.

President Khoja laid out the work plan of the Syrian Coalition, which included an analysis of the challenges faced by the Syrian Coalition and the opportunities that can be tapped to better serve the Syrian Revolution.

The conferees also discussed the political paths related to the national dialogue, and emphasized the need to continue the dialogue with opposition blocs. The meeting Communique reiterates the pivotal and essential role of the Syrian Coalition in any upcoming efforts pertaining to the Cairo and Moscow meetings, aimed at finding a political solution to the conflict in Syria, stressing that its absence would not give comprehensive results. It also points out that any attempts to bypass the role of the Syrian Coalition and to create artificial alternatives willing to walk out on the minimum aspirations of the Syrian people will be doomed to failure.

Moreover, the General Assembly approved a 13-item draft document of basic principles for a political settlement to the Syrian conflict. The document sets out a roadmap for a political solution in Syria. It emphasizes the need to resume negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations based on the results of the Geneva II Conference and based on the relevant Security Council resolutions. It also stresses that the negotiating process must result in the implementation of the Geneva declaration and the formation of "transitional governing body with full power executive powers, including the powers of the President of Republic and his authority over the state ministries, agencies and state institutions, including the armed forces, police intelligence and security agencies and branches. Moreover, the draft document stresses that any political process must engender true and comprehensive change to the current political system, including removal of the head of the regime and his inner circle and security forces, and the establishment of a civil, democratic, pluralistic system that ensures equal rights and duties for all Syrians. The document also espouses that stopping the killings and targeting, displacing, detaining and torturing of civilians is a prerequisite for resuming the negotiation process, and a test for the Assad regime’s compliance with human rights laws and the UN Security Council resolutions on Syria.

The General Assembly reviewed reports submitted by the Syrian Coalition’s representatives in Norway, Germany, Jordan, Belgium, and France, who discussed the problem of passports, as well as reviewed reports submitted by the Interim Government and Assistance Coordination Unit (ACU).

Members of the Syrian Coalition renew their full commitment to move forward achieving the aspirations of the Syrian people, and reaffirming their determination to achieve the goals of the revolution and declare their outright rejection of any bargains or attempts to derail the course of the Syrian Revolution.

Long live Syria, free and with honor.