Ahmad al Jarba

President of the Syrian Coalition

March 17, 2014

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I stand here today as the Syrian people mark the 3rd anniversary of their uprising, which started with children from Dara’a writing anti-Assad graffiti on the walls of their school. These children, who were detained by the security service, were tortured, their fingernails ripped off, and their families were humiliated. These brave children sparked the Syrian revolution. In Syria today, people are crying for help to the free world as they face the worst massacre of the modern century by a fascist regime that has no regard for human life.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In Syria, there is a regime that is offering the people the choice between barrel bombs and chemical weapons knowing it can commit those crimes with impunity.

In Syria, we are being killed by Russian and Iranian weapons by Hezbollah militias and other mercenaries. But the deafening silence of the international community is also responsible for the deaths of Syrian people.

I implore you, representatives of people who have suffered from tyrants and were witness to massacres decades ago. With a heavy heart, I say we are facing today what some of you experienced decades ago.

Ladies and gentlemen,

What is happening in Syria today is not a civil war. It is not a regional or sectarian conflict. It is the biggest massacre in modern times. It is an embodiment of human tragedy repeated on a daily basis in Syria.

More than 2.5 million people are trapped in towns and cities besieged by the criminal Bashar al Assad and his gang.

Those who survived the barrel bombs, the artillery of tank shells, and chemical weapons are now dying of hunger and thirst due to the regime’s sieges. This is the 21st century. The only time a dictator deployed such policies as systematic starvation against his own people was Pol Pot of Cambodia.

The access of water, foods, and medicine to besieged areas should be the top priority of the international community. We also call for a UN resolution under Chapter VI to end the blockade on towns and cities in Syria. We have previously asked for a UN resolution to force all foreign militias out of Syria.

We will not forget the EU’s recognition of the Coalition in 2012. We will not forget the European Parliament’s resolution on February 05, 2014, on Syria condemning the Assad regime and calling for the implementation of the Geneva Communiqué, ending human rights violations, and safe access of aid. We will also not forget the European Council conclusions on Syria on January 20th, 2014.

I would like here to remind you all that Assad has not complied with any of these demands, and has continued to deny humanitarian access. In fact, the regime became more violent; more criminal, and persisted with its policy of siege and starvation.

We went to Geneva supporting a political solution, but our experience told us that the regime’s delegation came to thwart any serious attempts to find a solution. More than 5.000 defenseless civilians have died since the beginning of Geneva II. Special envoy Brahimi made it clear in his report that the Assad regime is responsible for the failure of Geneva II. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon also said that Assad’s run for a new term as president will declare the end of the political solution.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In Syria, we have a moral and ethical confrontation rather than a military or political one. I did not come here to ask you to send troops to Syria. All I ask from you is to give the Syrian people the chance to defend themselves against a merciless terrorist killing machine. Yes terrorist, the entire world has been witness to the terrorism that both Assad the father and the son fostered in Syria. The Assad regime should be the last to talk about combating terrorism. Killing and torturing us under the pretext of combating terrorism is just a ploy which should not be acceptable.

The only crime the Syrian people committed was to ask for a free civil state instead of a dictatorship that sponsors terrorism while pretending to provide protection for minorities. Those who know Syria well realize the regime persecutes minorities as much as it did the majority.

It is a regime of systematic terrorism ready to destroy society to stay in power. A regime that has no legitimacy and never will.

The Syrian Coalition has a vision of the future Syria with pluralism and a respect for democracy, good governance, the rule of the law, and human rights; a country, where the role of women is respected and minorities are integrated into society; a country with all citizens from all religious and ethnic backgrounds having equal rights.

We must be aware that not only the Assad regime stands against a free Syria as do terrorist groups brought by Assad; Hezbollah militias, the Iraqi sectarian militias, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) and other groups. They all reject a civil free Syria and prefer Syria to become a hotbed of their terror under the protection of the Assad regime.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The EU’s concern about terrorism and extremism in Syria is legitimate, but to address this issue would mean to remove the primary cause. By not taking serious measures to remove the Assad regime, you are giving a license to continue to kill and foster terrorism. The free world must not fall victim to Assad’s blackmail, especially in light of the fact that the terror of the Assad regime, if not stopped, would reach Europe.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Terrorism has no boundaries, and we all remember the tragedy of 9/11. Fighting terrorism and removing the Assad regime should go hand in hand in order to achieve our goals. Our people are fighting to achieve their goals. We gain ground at times and we lose ground other times. But we will continue to struggle to achieve the legitimate aspirations of our people and promote our common interests. Your enemy is our enemy. It is terrorism which you have enacted hundreds of laws to combat. We are fighting terrorism. What are you waiting for? Addressing this very question could save our region as well as the future of international peace and security.