Fact Sheet

Mission of the Syrian Coalition

1. The mission of the Syrian Coalition is to support the Syrian people who are struggling to change their country into a democratic, inclusive and pluralistic civil state.
2. To fulfill that mission, we work to achieve five core goals, as outlined in our declaration of principles:
   • to bring an end to all violence in Syria;
   • to ensure a lawful, inclusive and democratic political transition;
   • to maintain the continuity and preservation of functional state institutions and structures within a democratic and rule-of-law abiding state;
   • to ensure the unity of the Syrian people and territorial integrity and sovereignty of our state;
   • to bring all those responsible for war crimes to account in accordance with international law.
3. The Coalition fulfills this mission by voicing the concerns and aspirations of the Syrian people and by intensifying pressure on the international community to provide assistance on their behalf.

About the Syrian Coalition

1. The Syrian Coalition was formed in November 2012. It brings together the main Syrian opposition groups committed to ending the Syrian conflict and assisting Syria’s democratic transition.
2. The Coalition reflects the ethnic and religious diversity that is a fundamental part of Syrian heritage. Coalition members include Shia and Sunni Muslims, Alawites, Christians, Kurds, Druze, Armenians, Assyrians, and Circassians.
3. Coalition headquarters are based in Cairo, Egypt. We also have offices in France, Germany, Qatar, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.
4. The Coalition is comprised of a 114-member Parliamentary Assembly led by President Ahmad al-Jarba, Vice Presidents Suheir Atassi, Salem Maslat and Mohamed Tayfur, as well as Secretary-General Bader Jamous.
5. Members of the Coalition’s Parliamentary Assembly include all major groups and individuals committed to a democratic, inclusive, and pluralistic Syria, such as the Supreme Military Council representing the Free Syrian Army, Syrian National Council, the Democratic Bloc, the Revolutionary Movement, Syrian Revolution General Commission, Local Coordination Committees of Syria, and the Local Administrative Councils of Syria. We welcome everyone who is committed to the realization of a democratic Syria.
6. The Coalition is recognized as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people by 120 states and organizations. This includes the United States, the European Union, the Arab League, and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Principles

• The Coalition is united by three core principles: inclusivity, accountability and consensus. These principles will guide the transition process as well as the formation of an interim government.

Political Solution

1. The Coalition’s vision is that of a democratic Syria free from Assad’s tyranny. The Coalition fully supports all political initiatives to end the conflict in Syria that will enable a democratic transition process to begin, as outlined in our framework for future political solutions.
2. The Coalition is committed to a political solution to the Syrian conflict built on the transition processes outlined in the Geneva Communiqué of June 2012, which stipulates that any future transitional governing body must be decided on the basis of mutual consent between parties to the conflict.
3. As Coalition President Ahmad al-Assi stated upon assuming office in July 2013, the Coalition will participate in the proposed Geneva II conference when the military balance has changed and the regime has demonstrated a willingness to transfer power to a transitional government with full executive powers.

The Interim Government

1. To ensure the continuation of public services, legal duties, and basic services in liberated territories, the Coalition will form an interim government to serve as a temporary executive branch.
2. The Coalition plans to announce 11 ministers and 3 commissions as part of this administration. Each Ministry will have a 50 member team based in Syria’s liberated territories.
3. The interim government will be dissolved with the appointment of a democratic transitional government.

The Transitional Government

1. As was outlined in the Geneva Communiqué, the Coalition expects any negotiation aimed at ending the Syrian conflict to discuss the establishment of a transitional government with “full executive powers”.
2. Once a transitional government is formed, it will need to convene a national dialogue to formulate a new Syrian constitution, on the basis of which Syria should hold its first free and democratic elections.

The Free Syrian Army

1. The Coalition works to prevent the destruction of Syria through the Free Syrian Army (FSA). The FSA is committed to ensuring the protection of civilians and their legitimate right to self-defense, in conformity with international law.
2. To systematize collaboration among its units, in December the FSA founded the Supreme Joint Military Command Council, a 30-member command structure that coordinates FSA operations and strategic planning. The Supreme Military Council is led by Chief of Staff, Salim Idriss, and will be under the command of a civil ministry, pending the formation of the Coalition’s interim government.
3. The FSA acts in accordance with international law. It holds its members accountable for any violations of such law.
4. The FSA rejects all acts of extremism committed by terrorist groups. It condemns the use of chemical weapons, as stipulated in its Proclamation of Principles. The FSA welcomes all UN investigations into the use of such weapons.