By Saud Sultan and Mubarak Al-Enezi (with photos)
KUWAIT, Dec 8 (KUNA) -- Chairman of the Syrian National Coalition (SNC) Ahmad Al-Asi Al-Jarba on Sunday highly appreciated the support offered by the GCC States, particularly Kuwait, to the Syrian people who suffer a large-scale humanitarian tragedy.
In an exclusive interview with KUNA, Al-Jarba expressed deep gratitude to the State of Kuwait for hosting him, saying he was honored with today's meetings with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.
Underscoring the significance of his mission in Kuwait, he said the visit crucial timing, only two days ahead of the GCC Summit, adding that he apprised the top leaders of current political, field and humanitarian conditions in Syria.
Al-Jarba told KUNA that the Kuwaiti leaders would relay "this picture" to their GCC counterparts at the summit, where the Syrian cause "would be a core topic" in the discussions.
Praising Kuwait's major role in supporting the Syrian refugees, he noted its hosting of the international donors' conference for Syria in January. His Highness the Amir had played a major role in this respect, he pointed out.
Up to seven million Syrians have become relocated, homeless or refugees outside the country. "In Syria, the people are experiencing grave tragedy and most of them have lost their homes and jobs and the situation is literally catastrophic," Al-Jarba said.
Re-affirming Kuwait's key role in backing his people, Al-Jarba expressed confidence that the second donors' conference, also to be hosted by Kuwait, would be crowned with success, noting that the forthcoming convention would be quite necessary in shadow of the mounting catastrophes in Syria.
Al-Jarba stressed that he, along with the Syrian opposition leaders, was pinning high hopes on the GCC Summit for further support for the Syrian cause.
He reiterated the coalition would take part in the Geneva II conciliation conference, due in end of January, "but on basis of the basic principles of the Syrian revolution." Al-Jarba explained that the opposition had presented several requests, at the recent London meeting that grouped foreign ministers of allied states, namely carving out "a humanitarian corridor.
"This has never materialized and I believe meeting this term will pave the way to ensure success of the Geneva-II conference." He indicated that the opposition has also requested action to resolve plight of thousands of Syrians held in the regime prisons and that (President) Bashar Al-Assad should not have any role in the transitional phase.
On current actions by the coalition, he noted that the movement had pressed for prosecution of Al-Assad and his aides by the International Criminal Court for continuously spilling blood in Syria since more than two and a half years ago.
Al-Jarba said the coalition had informed the UN about employment of chemical arms in Al-Nabk on the northern outskirts of Damascus, in addition to various other atrocities "where the regime set peoples afire." The regime is currently trying to gain more ground in the ongoing fighting to strengthen its status ahead of the Geneva-II talks, he said.
Al-Jarba acknowledged that the coalition is not on good terms with some other opposition groups, namely the hardliners, but stressed that its current main objective is fighting the regime. (end) sss.mdm.tb.rk KUNA 090134 Dec 13NNNN