SDC: We will not partake elections that do not achieve Syrians’ goals

Today, the Syrian Democratic Council issued a statement regarding the Syrian presidential elections to be held on the 26^th of May.

The text of the statement read:

“The Syrian Democratic Council has repeatedly announced that it is not concerned with any elections that do not achieve the goals of Syrians in their lives, rights and political presence, and will not be a facilitator of any electoral procedure that violates UN Resolution 2254.

Although we sought to negotiate with the authorities in Damascus in order to achieve progress on which a political path would be based, this did not happen. It was hindering any consensus and impeding the continuation of the meetings, and its aim was to impose its vision without regard for human rights.

Assessing this position, we considered that the extremists of the regime and the opposition are responsible for all crimes against the Syrian people and for obstructing negotiations for a negotiated political solution in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2254: to form a transitional governing body, a safe environment, and a new constitution for the country on the basis of which transparent elections under international supervision are held and guarantees for the results of achieving the continuation of work to get out of the bitter crisis that everyone has suffered from.

We in the Syrian Democratic Council affirm that we will not be part of the presidential election process nor will we participate in it, and our stance is firm, that there are no elections before the political solution in accordance with international decisions, the release of detainees, the return of the displaced, and laying new foundations for a political structure free from tyranny and the control of unilateral political forces, and in a pluralistic democratic atmosphere that recognizes the rights of the Syrian components on an equal footing, without discrimination or exclusion.

J.O