Foreign relations of the Syrian opposition explained

The foreign relations of Syrian opposition refers to the external relations of the self-proclaimed oppositional Syrian Arab Republic, which sees itself as the genuine Syria. The region of control of Syrian opposition-affiliated groups is not well defined. The Turkish government recognizes Syrian opposition as the genuine Syrian Arab Republic and hosts several of its institutions on its territory. The seat of Syria in the Arab League was reserved for the Syrian opposition until 2014.

Diplomatic relations of opposition groups

The Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) was formed in Doha in November 2012, and declared itself the legitimate representative of the Syrian people, calling on states to recognize it. It was recognized by the six member States (Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait) of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) within a day. The Arab League "urged regional and international organisations to recognise it [SOC] as a legitimate representative for the aspirations of the Syrian people”, and called it “a legitimate representative and a primary negotiator with the Arab League", but did not recognise it as the sole representative of the Syrian people.^[1] France was the first Western country to give recognition to the SOC on 13 November 2012, followed by Turkey on 15 November. On 19 November, Italy and the European Union's Foreign Ministers stated recognition of the SOC as a (rather than the sole) legitimate representative of the Syrian people.^[2] Over the following weeks, Britain recognised it as the sole representative,^[3] and Germany, Denmark, Norway, the Benelux countries and the US recognised it as "the" legitimate representative. Similar wording was used by the 114 member Friends of Syria group of states in December 2012.^[4]

Foreign relations of the Syrian Opposition

Relations with UN member states

The US along with many European allies recognised the Syrian coalition as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people in late 2012.^{[5] [6]}

• - Qatari government recognizes Syrian opposition as the genuine representative of Syria and hosts several of its institutions on its territory, including the embassy of SNC.^[7] The SNC embassy in Qatar was opened on 27 March 2013.^[8]
• - The Turkish government recognizes Syrian opposition as the genuine Syrian Arab Republic and hosts several of its institutions on its territory, including the Syrian National Council and the high command of the Free Syrian Army.^[9]
• - France was the first Western country to give official recognition to the Syrian National Council in November 2012.^[10]
• - In December 2012, US president Barack Obama announced the US would formally recognise the Syrian Opposition Coalition, rather than the Damascus government, as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people., the embassy of the United States is suspended due to the Syrian civil war.^[11] The Syrian National Coalition’s offices in the United States were recognised as diplomatic missions in May 2014.^{[5] [12]}

Relations with international organisations

• - The GCC recognized the Syrian National Coalition as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people in November 2012, the first formal international endorsement it received.^[10] On 15 April 2023, foreign ministers of GCC+3 format met in Jeddah and discussed the return of Syria to the regional organisation and so called Arab peace plan.^[13]
• - Six of the Arab states of the Persian Gulf recognised the Syrian National Coalition as Syria’s only legitimate representative on 12 November 2012, but Iraq, Algeria and Lebanon prevented the Arab League from following suit.^[14] On 6 March 2013, the Arab League granted to the Syrian National Coalition Syria's seat in the Arab League.^[15] Moaz al-Khatib, president of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces formally took its vacant seat at an Arab League summit meeting that month.^[16] On 9 March 2014, the pan-Arab group's secretary general Nabil al-Arabi said that Syria's seat at the Arab League would remain vacant until the opposition completes the formation of its institutions.^[17] On 7 May 2023, at the meeting of the Council of the Arab League in Cairo composed of foreign ministers, was agreed to reinstate Syrian government’s membership in the Arab League.^[18]
• In November 2012 the EU recognised the SNC as the "legitimate representative" of the Syrian people.^[19]

See also

• Foreign relations of Syria
• Foreign relations of Rojava

Notes and References

1. Arab League gives hesitant welcome to Syria opposition coalition, 13 November 2012 (http://english.ahram.org.eg)
2. http://www.france24.com/en/20121119-eu-recognises-opposition-bloc-legitimate-syrian-national-coalition-representative EU recognises Syrian National Coalition as 'legitimate' representative
3. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/21/world/middleeast/britain-is-latest-power-to-recognize-syrian-opposition-coalition.html Citing a ‘Credible Alternative’ to Assad, Britain Recognizes Syrian Rebel Group
4. Stefan Talmon Recognition of Opposition Groups as the Legitimate Representative of a People, Chinese Journal of International Law, Volume 12, Issue 2, 1 June 2013, Pages 219–253, https://doi.org/10.1093/chinesejil/jmt014 Published: 05 May 2013
5. https://www.thenational.ae/world/syrian-opposition-offices-get-us-diplomatic-recognition-1.244878 Syrian opposition offices get US diplomatic recognition
6. Web site: Big powers to recognize Syrian opposition. Daily Mirror. 12 December 2012. 23 November 2018.
7. News: Syrian Rebels Describe U.S.-Backed Training in Qatar . Public Broadcasting Service . FRONTLINE . 26 May 2014 . 14 November 2014.
8. Web site: First Syrian opposition embassy opens in Qatar . GlobalPost . 2013-03-27 . 2013-09-09.
9. Web site: Balci. Bayram. Turkey's Relations with the Syrian Opposition. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. 13 April 2012. 16 February 2019.
10. Web site: Kalman. Aaron. US, France recognize Syrian opposition as 'legitimate representative' of the people. The Times of Israel. 13 November 2012. 17 February 2019.
11. Web site: Dwyer. Devin. Hughes. Dana. Obama Recognizes Syrian Opposition Group. ABC News. 14 December 2012. 23 November 2018.
12. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis/u-s-recognizes-syria-opposition-offices-as-foreign-mission-idUSBREA440R220140505 U.S. recognizes Syria opposition offices as 'foreign mission'
13. News: Saudi Arabia and Syria discuss political solutions to latter's crises. Arab News. 12 April 2023. 13 April 2023.
14. Web site: Reuters. New Syrian opposition chief seeks recognition, arms. Antigua Observer Newspaper. 13 November 2012. 23 November 2018. 24 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181124005216/https://antiguaobserver.com/new-syrian-opposition-chief-seeks-recognition-arms/. dead.
15. Web site: Syrian opposition takes Arab League seat. Ian Black. the Guardian. 20 November 2014.
16. Web site: Syrian Opposition Joins Meeting of Arab League. The New York Times. 27 March 2013. 18 February 2019.
17. Web site: Syria opposition 'not yet ready for Arab League seat'. The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon. 20 November 2014.
18. Web site: Arab foreign ministers agree to readmit Syria to the Arab League. Al Arabiya. 7 May 2023.
19. Web site: EU recognises Syrian National Coalition as 'legitimate' representative. France 24. 19 November 2012. 16 February 2019.