Christians excluded from Syrian rebels' 'interim government'
Istanbul, 14 Nov 2013: The representatives of the Syriac and Assyrian Christian members
of the Syrian National Coalition - the Syrian opposition groups recognized last year
as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people from different foreign
Chancelleries - have signed a statement denouncing the absence of Christian leaders
in the "ad interim" government consisting of nine ministers and established on Tuesday
by the Coalition during a meeting in Istanbul. In the long statement, re-launched
by Iraqi sources and sent to Fides Agency, the Assyrian and Syrian representatives
speak of "deliberate marginalization and exclusion" designed to expel a component
from the operational choices" that has given much to the Syrian revolution".
After
two days of discussion in Istanbul, the Coalition decided to join the Peace Conference
"Geneva 2" sponsored by Russia and the United States. Despite the accolades obtained
within the international community, the National Coalition and the Free Syrian Army
connected to it appear to be increasingly marginalized in the fight against Assad.
The Christian Assyrian and Syriac abbreviation as the Assyrian Democratic Organization
represent a small component within the Syrian National Coalition. Source: Fides