Moaz
al-Khatib is the head of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and
Opposition Forces. He put out this open letter today in Arabic
 |
| Khatib (left) with the German foreign minister in Cairo yesterday |
O great people of Syria,
Our brothers and sisters and kinsfolk of fortitude,
patience and purity!
I reiterate my gratitude to everyone who wrote an
alphabetical character or raise a hand in prayer. I apologize for not writing
back due to time-pressure.
In brief: I met yesterday with the foreign ministers
of Germany and France. They promised good things to come. In the evening,
France recognized your Coalition as the sole legitimate representative of the
Syrian people.
Congratulations to you on this step.
I want to explain to you something on which I need
your help.
Syria is a dangerous area in the world. They won’t
lift the regime’s political cover without ascertaining we can manage our
country.
Likewise, they won’t offer relief or military
assistance in the absence of a cohesive body managing the country.
Consequently, first of all, we need to unite. We
don’t want someone coming on air to make a statement ruining everything and
giving the impression that we are torn asunder.
Our objective is to bring down the regime. Everything
else would follow.
I implore every opposition side to establish contact
with us, to support us.
If anyone is looking for a post, I could serve as his
subordinate to win him over and have him help bring down this regime.
I beg you. One misguided statement will destroy the
country.
Recognition is the Syrian people’s gateway to win
financial support. Therein comes the role of the Interim Government we are now trying
to set up. We would be able to buy arms straight from the hip to bring down the
regime.
Today, the United States made its recognition of the
Coalition as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people
conditional on the Coalition demonstrating its ability to represent the Syrian
people.
This is a historic moment. I beseech God that we
don’t disappoint you. But please don’t let us down.
I want the coming Friday’s slogans to be thus:
“Obama, don’t worry -- we stand by the Coalition.” I want streamers thanking
the French president and placards saying, “The Syrian people are one” and “No
extremism and no terror.” You need not use the same words, but their meaning.
I want the Military Councils to raise the Coalition’s
banner under the flag of the Revolution. I want the Syrian people’s nature to
come across without the venting of intemperate thoughts.
I want you to circulate this post by all means possible
and relay it to civilians and the military.
I tell you: gather your courage. We want to bring
down this regime as soon as possible. Our executive structures will be in place
imminently. Our Interim Government is being mulled over and formed. (I repeat here
that both the Coalition and Interim Government will disband once the regime collapses.)
Believe me, our people are our taskwork. With God’s
help, we shall be up to the task.
I met yesterday with Lady Ashton, who is responsible
for the EU’s Foreign Affairs. They wish us to
have an Interim Government and show we are genuine and that the Syrian people
are on our side.
Soon, in consultation with my colleagues, I will be talking to
the media about important matters that could provide us with a shortcut. I
trust in God we will be able to topple the tyrant of Damascus before the
Revolution’s second anniversary. Muster your courage and come together.
Our martyrs’ souls are hovering over us. Our women are behind
bars. Hundreds of thousands of our young men are in captivity. Our people are
in disaster areas. They have become refugees or internally displaced. They are insecure
and live in devastated homes. All this is our obligation. We need vigor and hard
work.
Get started and God be with you.
