A delegation from the opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) led by its chairman Mr Burhan Ghalioun is expected early next month in Algeria as part of a visit aimed at mustering more support for the ongoing revolution to bring down the embattled Al Assad regime.

•  Echorouk has learnt that the planned SNC delegation’s visit here will be taking place during the second week of December 2011 and will be given pride of place in the columns of Echorouk newspaper which intends on this occasion to spearhead a week of media solidarity with the Syrian pro-democracy revolution.

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• The SNC delegates are slated to meet with members of Algeria’s civil society, political party leaders and with representatives of various bodies and organizations during their week-long visit to our country.

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• Meanwhile, in a lengthy statement to a London-based newspaper, Mr Usamah al-Munjid, member of the opposition Syrian National Council and counselor of the council’s general secretariat, said that the manner of dealing with the opposition Syrian National Council has changed since the proclamation of the Arab initiative freezing Syria’s membership; the Syrian oppositionist said that this was apparent even in the way its members are officially received.
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• “The regime’s promises to abide by the Arab initiative were an attempt to gain time, thinking that it could do so. However, everyone can now see that the days of the regime in Syria are counted. The recent Arab League initiative met our demands despite certain challenges, including the reservations of some Arab countries. We had also asked for the withdrawal of ambassadors and keeping only diplomatic representation offices. This decision is up to each country to do what it sees suitable, he said.”
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• “The Arab dimension of future Syria is very important. Our aim is to work from within the Arab organization and the Arab countries for a start because we believe that the Arab brothers care about the safety and future of the Syrian people. In our dialogue with the Arab League, we will urge it to use its stature and pressure tools. Even Russia and China used to justify their stands by saying that Syria’s neighbouring countries were not complaining. Now that they have a united stand, Russia has no excuse and the Chinese are close to changing their stands.”
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• “Turkey was totally ready to impose financial sanctions and it had approved this approach. However, it waited until the Arab League took a firm stand. We expect the Turkish stand to become firmer soon. During my meeting with [Turkish Prime Minister] Erdogan in New York and during the meetings of the National Council with [Turkish Foreign Minister] Davutoglu in Turkey, they affirmed that decisions will be made. Davutoglu also affirmed that Turkey is prepared to deal with the National Council as the Syrian people’s representative”, he stressed.
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• “The manner of dealing with the Syrian National Council changed as well as the level of the official reception of its members changed after the Arab League’s decision. Everyone is now convinced that the Arabs have washed their hands off the Syrian regime.
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• We accomplished several goals most important of which was forming the council’s financial and political institutions. This began immediately after the council was announced. The general secretariat of the council meets regularly. We are finalizing the establishment of our representation offices abroad. These have begun to operate in Washington, Paris, London, the Gulf, Turkey, and Cairo. We are also exerting major efforts to finalize our international relations”, Al Munjid asserted.
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• “We are working on several issues, primarily on drawing up a road map for the nature of the change in preparation for the post-Al-Assad stage. Our program also includes protection of the minorities and the form of the sanctions that can contribute to the fall of the Syrian regime as soon as possible. We have presented many files and we are drawing up a program that would lead to our recognition. We are also studying the next steps and possible scenarios for the change. We cannot move while the regime is killing unarmed civilians; we have to prepare true scenarios”, he underlined.
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• “We have a task force that is preparing for the transitional stage on more than 12 fields of governance. Local experts are cooperating with international experts to implement a program for reform as soon as possible and to set the priorities. At present, we are not focusing on the scenario of the regime’s fall as much as we are preparing for the post-Al-Assad stage”, he added.
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• “The biggest bloc that enjoys the support of the street is the Syrian National Council and the coordinating committees are part of this council. There are also other sides that are not sure of themselves to whom we say that they should surpass their personal ideas. The hands of the council are stretched to all and everyone is invited to the dialogue. Our differences are not with the opposition but with the tyrannical clique. We also affirm that all the opposition currents have the same agenda despite the organizational differences.
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• They all seek Al-Assad’s fall and then to build a democratic and pluralistic state. Everyone is in agreement on building a modern state. The differences do not rise to the level of splits; it is just a stage to put the cards in order. But we say that the National Council gained its legitimacy on the ground and from the trust of the street. We operate within the framework of this trust. We know that the seriousness of the council is being tested; this is the constant incentive in our actions”, Usamah Al Munjid pointed out.
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