Syrian opposition calls for emergency meeting in Paris

By Mohamed Sheikh Yusuf

ISTANBUL

Riad Hijab, chief coordinator for Syria’s opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC), contacted the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) on Wednesday with a view to holding an extraordinary meeting in Paris in light of recent military escalations by Syria’s Assad regime.

According to an HNC statement, Hijab called on the ISSG to pressure the regime and its allies in Syria to comply with UN resolutions and immediately halt its violations against the Syrian people.

He also called on the international community to help lift ongoing regime blockades of several Syrian cities and to allow humanitarian aid into blockaded areas in compliance with Articles 12, 13 and 14 of UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

On April 18, the Syrian opposition suspended its participation in peace talks in Geneva due to deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Syria and renewed hostilities by the regime.

According to a tally compiled by Anadolu Agency, more than 361,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict erupted in 2011.