Sochi Conference Threatens Syria Peace Process: Joint Statement by Syrian Civil Society

Russia has announced that it will host a “Syrian Congress on National Dialogue” in Sochi. The undersigned organizations believe that such a Conference would not allow meaningful representation and participation for all Syrians, and poses a serious threat to the potential for any viable peace process in Syria.

The signatories recognize the need for a fair and credible national dialogue process. However, the proposed “Syrian Congress on National Dialogue” is neither fair nor credible. It will instead only further undermine the Geneva Peace Process and all relevant UN Security Council resolutions, including Security Council resolution 2254.

Russia’s military intervention in Syria and its repeated use of the veto at the United Nations Security Council makes Russia a party to the conflict. Given its actions in Syria, Russia cannot be regarded as either a neutral mediator nor a fair convener for a national dialogue process. The only process that is legitimate or credible is the UN-led process.

Syrian Civil Society acknowledges that the Geneva Process has many flaws, yet it remains the only legitimate political track and the only one perceived as neutral by the Syrian people. It is critical that the UN continue to reaffirm the primacy of Security Council resolution 2254, which established a clear sequencing for a credible political process, starting with political transition, followed by a constitutional referendum and free and fair elections. The Sochi Conference undermines the primacy of UN Security Council resolution 2254 and the UN-led peace process and risks providing legitimacy to the Assad regime. Any participation by the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Mr. Staffan de Mistura, in the Sochi Conference represents a dangerous departure from the UN-led Geneva process.

Any successful peace process must first begin by gaining the trust of the Syrian people. No real transition can occur without accountability for crimes and justice for victims and their families. Equally, no real transition can occur without an end to the ongoing airstrikes and besiegement of civilians or in the absence of a solution for detainees and missing persons.

The undersigned organizations demand the continuation of a credible political process that is UN-led and genuinely engages Syrian civil society, who are united on the need to end the indiscriminate actions, break the sieges and secure the release of political detainees and arbitrarily-held persons. The international community must be clear that it will not allow the political process to be diverted from achieving the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people, in Sochi or elsewhere.

1. Agriculture engineering syndicate of Daraa

2. Al-Gouta Youth Volunteering Team

3. Alkawakibi Organization for Human Rights

4. Alqunaitra free Governorate Council

5. Baytna Syria

6. Daraa Bar Association

7. Daraa free Governorate Council

8. Decostamine Initiative

9. Detainees' Voice Team

10. Emergency Team in Daraa

11. Emissa for Development

12. Engineers Association – Hama

13. Family issues Directorate in Daraa

14. Free Agriculture directorate in Qunaitra

15. Free Daraa Seeds Association

16. Free Directorate of Real Estate in Daraa

17. Free Directorate of Transportations in Daraa

18. Free engineering syndicate of Daraa

19. Free Syrian Lawyers Aggregation

20. Free Syrian Writers

21. FREE-Syria Foundation

22. FSCSO

23. General Directorate of Civil Registry in Daraa and Qunaitra

24. Ghayth Charity

25. Help4Syria

26. Houran Independent Journalists

27. House Of justice in Daraa

28. Jasmine Dream Organization

29. Kawakibi Center for Transitional Justice and Human Rights

30. Kesh Malek

31. Kurds House

32. Lawadessa Center

33. Local Administration Councils Unit (LACU)

34. Local Council of Alghadir

35. Local Council of Alharra

36. Local Council of Alhirak

37. Local Council of Aljizah

38. Local Council of Alkahil

39. Local Council of Alkoum

40. Local Council of Allajat

41. Local Council of Almuhajrin

42. Local Council of Almusifra

43. Local Council of Alqahtanya

44. Local Council of Alsanamin

45. Local Council of Alsawara

46. Local Council of Alsheikh Maskin

47. Local Council of Alsheikh Saad

48. Local Council of Alshwa

49. Local Council of Ataman

50. Local Council of Beir Ajam

51. Local Council of Bousra Alsham

52. Local Council of Bouyda

53. Local Council of Busr Alharir

54. Local Council of Dael

55. Local Council of Daraa Albalad

56. Local Council of Dourwin

57. Local Council of Ebtaa

58. Local Council of Em Batnah

59. Local Council of Em Walad

60. Local Council of Enkhil

61. Local Council of Gharbya GHarya

62. Local Council of Jasim

63. Local Council of Jbab

64. Local Council of Jillin

65. Local Council of Jubata Alkhashab

66. Local Council of Karak

67. Local Council of Khan Arnaba

68. Local Council of Kharab Alshakhim

69. Local Council of Kharbit Ghazala

70. Local Council of Kodana

71. Local Council of Mashara

72. Local Council of Museika

73. Local Council of Muzirib

74. Local Council of Najih

75. Local Council of Namar

76. Local Council of Namir

77. Local Council of Nasib

78. Local Council of Nawa

79. Local Council of Qusaiba

80. Local Council of Rafid

81. Local Council of Saida

82. Local Council of Shariaa

83. Local Council of Sharqia Gharya

84. Local Council of Souesah

85. Local Council of Tafas

86. Local Council of Tal Shihab

87. Local Council of Yadoudah

88. Local Council of Zaizoun

89. Local Development and Small Projects Support (LDSPS)

90. Masar Research Center

91. Mazaya

92. Mouwatana for Civil Action

93. New Syrian Network

94. Obaida Organization

95. Office for the Documentation of Violations in the Southern Region

96. Orphans association in Nahta

97. Peace and Justice for Syria, London

98. Pro Media Group

99. Reformation Assembly in Houran

100. Rethink Rebuild Society

101. Revolutionary Council of Houran

102. Roia Organization

103. Sanad for People with Special Needs

104. Save The Rest Campaign

105. Scotland4Syria

106. Seeds increasing association in Qunaitra

107. Shahid Media Association

108. Shaml Coalition

109. Sonbola Group for Education and Development

110. Sound and Picture Organization

111. Syrian American Council

112. Syrian Association of Yorkshire

113. Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Information

114. Syrian Civil Defence (The White Helmets)

115. Syrian Concourse of Tomorrow

116. Syrian Freedom Youth for Citizenship and Secularism

117. Syrian Journalists Association (SJA)

118. Syrian Network for Human Rights

119. Syrian Nonviolence Movement

120. Syrian Revolutionary Committee

121. Syrian Society of Nottinghamshire

122. Syrian Welsh Society

123. Syrian women association for development in Qunaitra

124. Syrian Women Association Slalam

125. Syrian Women Network

126. Syrians for Truth and Justice – STJ

127. Syrische Jeugd Forum (Zaad)

128. Technical services directorate in Qunaitra

129. The Day After

130. The Syrian Authority for Sports and Youth

131. Women Now for Development

132. Working Group for Syria

133. Zaiton Magazine

134. Zenobia, Syrian Women’s Association

January 03, 2018