Statement by Supreme Military Council in the Presence of the Coalition's President

Press Release

Syrian Coalition

Istanbul, Turkey

October 5, 2013

In the name of Allah; the most compassionate; the merciful

“And hold fast, all of you together, to the cable of Allah, and do not separate. And remember Allah’s favor unto you: how you were enemies and He made friendship between your hearts so that you became as brothers by His grace” (verse form the Qur’an).

The Supreme Military Council (SMC) has met with the President of the Syrian Coalition, Chief of Staff of the Free Syrian Army FSA, and commanders of the five fronts and military councils. They have discussed various developments concerning the Syrian Revolution and each group was given the opportunity to explain its views. Ambiguities were resolved after the President of the Coalition explained the current circumstances surrounding the work of the Coalition at such a crucial moment of the Syrian Revolution.

Participants,

Stress the need for more communication and cooperation between the Syrian Coalition, the Supreme Military Council, and the General Staff of the FSA so as to promote joint action and bridge the gaps.

Issue a call for closing ranks, renouncing division, and on the basis of mutual respect, rejecting all kinds of dissension caused by trying to separate the political wing from the military one.

Reiterate the need to respect institutions of the Syrian Revolution; primarily the Syrian Coalition, the political umbrella of revolutionary action, the military command, and the Interim Government, and emphasize the importance of accelerating the formation of the government after financial and logistic requirements for its success have been met and experts have been chosen to address the needs of our people in Syria. The government will also handle refugee affairs and create the conditions conducive to their quick return.

Emphasize the need to expedite the process of unification of all groups of the military wing through the restructuring of the FSA, according to rules of procedure which give the Supreme Military Council exclusive rights to form the unified army on Syrian territories.

Reiterate the rejection of dialogue with the terrorist regime in Syria, and reaffirm that the minimum acceptable is a negotiation process with Arab, Islamic states, and international guarantees, in which the Coalition maintains its constants: the need for Assad to step down, a transfer of power, and bringing to justice those who have committed war crimes against the Syrian people- whether inside Syria or the mercenaries Assad had brought from outside Syria.

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