On January 17th, 2022, the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies hosted a roundtable discussion with the Syrian Opposition Coalition. This roundtable included Mr. Salem Al-Maslat - President of the Syrian Coalition, Dr. Bilal Turki - Chargé d'Affairs at the Syrian Embassy, Mr. Anas Al-Abdeh - Chairman of the Syrian Negotiation Commission, and Mr. Saad Baroud - First Secretary at the Syrian Embassy. It was moderated by Professor Sultan Barakat, the director of the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies, which was then followed by a Q&A session.
The meeting discussed several points of view concerning the humanitarian situation of Syrian refugees and citizens. Mr. Salem Al-Maslat emphasized the urge to preserve the interests of Syrians on all matters, in hopes of expediting peace and stability and achieving the Coalition's main concern in alleviating the suffering of all Syrians. He also stated his gratitude towards the State of Qatar for being supportive of the Syrian cause. Mr. Al-Maslat also commented on the Arab region's relations with Syria and stated that the lack of unity with Arab countries led to the reevaluation of the country's political solutions. On the other hand, Mr. Anas Al-Abdeh - Chairman of the Syrian Negotiation Commission, confirmed the urge to work on several fronts such as the political, educational, media, legal, agricultural, human rights, and military fronts. He believes that employing a strategy of negotiation includes instituting stability, strategic patience, and tactical flexibility. Furthermore, he called for a clear plan from the political side.
In a lively question-and-answer session, Mr. Salem Al-Maslat and Mr. Anas Al-Abdeh were asked several questions related to Syria's challenges and the situation of refugees. Mr. Salem argued that the Syrian Coalition focuses on working with the local community to help address the issues and the gaps within the institution. He also highlighted the importance of uniting the institutions under one title. Furthermore, Mr. Anas Al-Abdeh stated that the reconstruction of Syria cannot be achieved without a political solution. He called for a fundamental and sustainable political solution to achieve reconstruction.
This meeting aligns with the Center's principles to promote dialogue and advance interdisciplinary analyses of conflicts, humanitarian issues, and peacebuilding around the MENA region and beyond. Furthermore, the meeting advances CHS' commitment to collaboration as it pools expertise from the CHS team, attendees, and MA Student of Conflict Management and Humanitarian Action.