The National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (SNC) Ahmed al-Jarba has said, "We need American direct (military) support to save democracy in Syria."
US Secretary of State John Kerry met the SNC delegation headed by Ahmed al-Jarba in New York on Thursday.
Speaking after the meeting aimed promoting an international conference and a political solution to the more than three years old conflict in Syria, al-Jarba said, "I am very grateful to Secretary of State Kerry for American support for democracy in Syria. US support for the Syrian Coalition and an end to dictatorship is immensely important as my people face the violent repression of the Assad regime."
"I gave two messages to the Secretary," said al-Jarba, and explained, "We urgently need American action to push the international community to demand a political transition. Almost every country agrees with this, but American leadership and drive is essential to end this war and bring the democracy that the large majority of the Syrian people want."
"The situation is worsening, the suffering is spreading, time is not on our side," he added.
Secondly, he expressed that the Assad regime was pursuing a military victory, using indiscriminate weapons, ranging from chemical weapons to cluster bombs, and continued, "Until the regime has been forced to accept a political solution, we must have the means to protect ourselves. The US commitment of military support to the Supreme Military Council is vital, but it needs to happen fast, and in a way that allows us to defend ourselves and protect civilians. To deny us the right to self-defense is to risk that the regime will survive: thousands will be executed, the repression will continue without end."
In a bid to assure the US about their commitment to democracy in case of receiving US military aid al Jarba said, "I explained to Secretary Kerry that the Coalition fully understands American concerns about extremism and the possible diversion of military assistance. I confirmed that the Syria coalition is 100 percent committed to an inclusive democracy for all Syrians, regardless of religion or ethnicity. We absolutely condemn all terrorism and all attempts to turn Syria into what it is not, a monotheistic or totalitarian state."
"But we need American direct support to save democracy in Syria and to lead the world to force Assad at last to stand down,” emphasized al-Jarba.
Congressional officials on July 23 indicated support for arming the Syrian opposition following an announcement by the White House in June that it would provide limited military support for the opposition groups fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad.
Kerry and Jarba met for the first time since he was elected president of the Syrian National Coalition on July 6.
