By Jaime Ortega.
The Syrian National Coalition ( the main opposition to the regime of Bashar Assad) , agreed on Saturday afternoon to attend the Geneva Summit II which will begin on Wednesday, March 22, in Montreux (Switzerland).
The vote came a day later than what was originally planned and at the last minute changed the voting system in order to satisfy the pressures of its allies, which compromises their credibility in the future .
The process for the decision was decided on the outskirts of Istanbul inside a secret location. ” We support and trust in those who in history suffered unprecedented atrocities,” said a spokesman for the Coalition after learning the outcome of the vote.
This was a direct appeal to the Syrian people, who have shown less confidence in the ability of the SNC to represent them in almost three years of conflict.
75 participated in the vote of the 120 members who originally formed the heart of the Syrian National Coalition . Fifty-eight said ‘yes ‘, 14 ‘no’ , there were two abstentions and blank ballots . A week ago, 44 of its members had resigned by discrepancies. To approach the positive response pushed by the U.S., Russia and Saudi Arabia, the proportion was amended to approve the motion of at least two thirds present in the room.
“This change of system has been an unfair trick,” protested Fevzi Zakiroglu. “They have changed the rules at the last minute “, sorry . Zakiroglu part of the Syrian National Council (SNC ), driven by Turkey, in early 2012 institution. He integrated the Syrian National Coalition when it was founded. The CNS will show to the SNC Saturday that 22 members took part in the vote .
According to a few newspapers, the Syrian National Council had recently spoken out against the decision to go to Geneva II. ” The CNS said that if he won the ‘yes’ vote they would depart all members of the Coalition,” recalls Fevzi Zakiroglu .
“So, now that he has decided to go , they should resign .” Eight of the 22 CNS who participated in Saturday’s election betrayed their discipline and advocated to voting ‘yes’ .
Factional Division
Finally the 22 participants led by the Syrian National Council , added to the 44 already dropped before the Syrian National Coalition that culled more than half of its members in a tortuous way to Montreux. This shows the extreme level of division between factions within the CNS , which otherwise is unable to bind to the amalgamation of brigades fighting in Syria against Damascus.
However , the leader of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) , under the Coalition launched a cloak to their bosses. ” The FSA supports any solution to ensure a political transition [ in Syria ] on the condition that meets the objectives of the revolution ,” said Selim Idris a rebel leader in a speech posted on the internet . Knobs raised several factions that met Saturday in Ankara. No transcended details have been reported yet.
The axis of disagreement comes from the role of President Bashar Assad in the future of the Arab country. Many members voted for CNS before Geneva II as all parties agreed that there is room for the future dictator in Syria. This idea conflicts with the plans of Damascus, which will also go to Montreux. “The only solution will remain a military victory ,” said this week the Minister of National Reconciliation, Ali Haidar .
Humanitarian Aid Convoy
In order to gain the vote of the coalition, the United States on Saturday severely criticized the stance of the regime. The Secretary of State , John Kerry, flatly said . ” No! we are short of options,” on a clear hint that could take other measures to pressure Assad. Kerry accused him of promoting “on purpose” the rise of religious extremism to take over the western discourse presented as the savior against Al Qaeda.
In recent days, Damascus has sought, a facelift . On Friday claimed to have delivered to Russia, an ally, a proposal for a ceasefire city of Aleppo, the country’s second largest city. It also offered a massive exchange of prisoners for the rebels
After three months without food , the 18,000 inhabitants of the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk in Damascus , received on Saturday a convoy of humanitarian aid. This will alleviate the famine that has already killed 40 people. According to a source quoted by the Associated Press, Pro Assad militant Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
Yarmuk is not the only Syrian city suffering from food shortages. Some neighborhoods of Homs, that once led peaceful revolts, are surrounded now by a war with more than 130,000 dead. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, denounced on Friday Assad’s regime for ” blocking the delivery of humanitarian aid to the needy as a form of punishment.”
The French Foreign Minister , Laurent Fabius, welcomed the decision of the Syrian National Coalition . “It’s a brave decision to come up with a peaceful election,” he said. France, he said, will make every effort to Geneva II to lead a transitional government with full executive powers.
