Meeting minutes were obtained for a meeting that took place in Ankara on December 28 between a representative for the Turkish Foreign Ministry, two Turkish intelligence officials, and a delegation from the Syrian Opposition Coalition, headed by Salem Al-Meslet. 

Turkey's role exposed

The meeting minutes expose Turkey's role and interference in the coalition's policies, in addition to the nature of Ankara's relationship with other opposition groups, leading to Turkey's nomination of leaders in their assigned positions. 

Furthermore, the minutes also highlight the Turkish-Qatari dispute over the Doha meeting and how Ankara, through the coalition, worked to empty the Doha meeting, which Qatar held in order to appoint itself as a new lever for the Syrian opposition, while Turkey turned it into a mere workshop - void of content and results.

Riyad Hijab, Syria's defected PM, wants to formulate and head a follow-up committee that invites platforms and communications with countries under the claim of a "political solution in Syria." Riyad's initiative aimed to show that the coalition is weak and that there are other "legitimate" opposition platforms. 

Al Mayadeen published the minutes received without any modification in Arabic.

The Syrian coalition consisted of Salem Al-Meslet, Raya Hayyoush, Haitham Rahma, Abdel Basset Abdel Latif, Munther Serras, Riad Al Hassan, Abdel Majid Barakat, Abdel Ahad Astifo, Abdel Hakam Bashar, and Abdullah Kado.

The Turkish delegation consisted of the representative of the Foreign Ministry, Erdem Ozan, and a representative of the Turkish intelligence service, Mr. Abu Hamza, and the representative of the service, Mr. Harun, and the translator.

The meeting took place at the office of the head of the Coalition in Istanbul. 

Two days prior to the meeting, the Russian Presidency's Special Envoy to Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev, made a set of statements which Mr. Erdem described as false. He spoke of Turkish withdrawal, the Syrian Constitutional Committee, the Syrian regime's demands, and rejection of constitutional amendments. 

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The head of the opposition, Salem Al-Meslet, said that Lavrentiev's statements incited a negative reaction among the coalition and this led to great pressure that requires a response from the coalition.

Erdem contended that there is no need to respond and that there is no need to strain the relationship between the coalition, Russia, and the UN for Lavrientev's sake. 

The Doha workshop 

According to Erdem, the Foreign Minister met with Hijab based on the latter's recurring requests. The meeting, according to Erdem, was as per protocol and short, and a fast exhibition of the workshop and its goals was presented. The workshop was merely meant for an exchange of ideas and perspectives between the Syrians. Erdem conveyed 3 conditions: the first was that there would be no repercussions regarding threatening the coalition, the negotiating committee, and the Constitutional Committee. The second condition is the prohibition of interfering in the coalition's political course, particularly in Astana, Sochi, and "liberated areas". The third condition would be not to invite any figures from the Syrian Defense Forces (SDF), which is considered a terrorist party.

The head of the coalition described the workshop as embarrassing to the coalition and what it stands for. If Riyad Hijab were invited, he wouldn't go, though he remained in the coalition for several years after there was a meeting with a coalition candidate running against Ahmad Al-Jarba in 2014. 

"The meeting of the Turkish Foreign Minister, an authentic man we cherish and respect, with Riyad Hijab, is embarrassing for the coalition and for the head of the coalition, who is not received or dealt with by Turkey in this way."

"Riyad Hijab called me and invited me to discuss the workshop, its objectives, and the rest of its details, and I have the desire to go, but the members of the coalition preferred not to go because there was no official invitation from Doha to the head of the coalition, and there haven't been any previous visits to Qatar."

In order to avoid showing disagreements in such a sensitive time, the head of the coalition said he asked the brothers in Ankara to arrange a meeting for the coalition with the Turkish Foreign Minister and to speak with Doha "to respond to our letter in which we requested a visit to Doha to meet the Foreign Minister. We are able to go to Doha and participate in the workshop, knowing that all the information that reaches us clearly indicates that the main objective of organizing this workshop is to polish the image of Riyad Hijab and reduce the role of the coalition and the rest of the institutions of the "revolution", and this workshop will be an attack on the Constitutional Committee and the coalition. 

Hijab's follow-up committee  

The head of the Coalition continued to say, "We are baffled, honestly, by Hijab's invitation of Cairo and Moscow, in addition to other personalities deemed 'independent' - like Basma Kamdani - on the platform that Hijab is forming with the aim of finding a "political solution in Syria."

Hijab himself used to attack others pertaining to the topic of Cairo and Moscow platforms and considered it Syrian-government affiliated - so, how is it that he invites these platforms after their roles have diminished and there's no mention of them any longer? We feel like this is made to polish their image, undermine the role of the coalition, and create an impression that the coalition is weak and that there are other opposition platforms that are "legitimate". 

Erdem responded sharply to what was being said, "Such concerns are unjustified since Hijab pledged not to form a new body as well as not to harm Astana's trajectory, and the Constitutional Committee... so there is no need to be afraid. Do you want to meet the Turkish Foreign Minister? Does that mean our meeting does not satisfy you? You don't like it? We are four in this delegation and you don't like our meeting? We will speak to Doha to arrange a meeting there along with the Foreign Minister. Don't be ultrasensitive."

The Constitutional Committee 

Erdem said the Constitutional Committee is the product of joint efforts with guarantors in Astana and that any attempts to obstruct efforts in Astana will be blocked. "Withdrawal from the Committee will bring people closer to the Syrian regime - do not give them this opportunity (referring to the resignation of Ibrahim Al-Jabbawi, who resigned on December 27). The committee may do better without Jabbawi, but we'll have to think of a replacement."

He continues, in short, the Constitutional Committee will continue. "We know that the work in it is difficult, and the road ahead is long, and our task in Syria resembles one who is looking for a needle in a large haystack, but do not rush into the results. Two years from the timeframe of the Constitutional Committee is normal in a situation like that of the Syrian revolution," Erdem said. 

"We want the coalition to speed up the reform process. You didn't make a qualitative change... We do not want personal differences to drive you to the reform process. People are watching you and they know very well what is happening... You must include actors in the coalition, they add more value to it. The local councils are doing a great job on the ground, most of them live inside Syria, and their relationship is good with our group on the ground... Why not enter the coalition? Don't you want to solve people's problems? This will help you a lot. We want the coalition to have a good relationship with the revolution... Strengthen your relationship with countries allied with the United States, Europe and the United Nations. Be more active: we support the revolution and the coalition and we will not change our position.