By Ali Al-Bassam
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

DOHA, Qatar — The Syrian National Coalition (SNC) opened the doors to its first “embassy” in Qatar last Wednesday, just a day after the Arab League granted it recognition by giving it Damascus’s seat in the league.

The head of the SNC, Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib, and Qatari State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Khaled Al-Attiya, were at the embassy in Doha for the inauguration of the representative office, dubbed the “Embassy of the Syrian National Coalition.”  “This is the first embassy of the Syrian people,” said al-Khatib.  Al-Khatib said that the SNC’s next goal is to assume Syria’s seat in the United Nations.  Al-Khatib also used the ribbon cutting ceremony as a platform to voice his frustration with global powers for failing to do more to assist the SNC with toppling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.  “There is an international willingness for the revolution not to triumph,” said al-Khatib.

NATO Chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said last Wednesday that a political solution to the Syrian crisis must shapen, but ruled out Western military intervention despite Khatib’s plea.

The SNC named Nizar Haraki as its first ambassador to Qatar.  Haraki said that he will “soon” present his accreditation letter to the Emir of Qatar.  The SNC also named envoys in several countries including Britain, France, Libya, Turkey, and the United States, but has not yet proceeded with opening diplomatic missions in those countries.

Russia scolded the Arab League for taking “another anti-Syria step,” when the league recognized the SNC.  Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Aleksandr Lukashevich said, “In terms of international law, the decisions taken by the Arab League in respect of Syria are illegal and void because the government of the Syrian Arab Republic was and will remain the legitimate representative of the UN member state.”  Russia also said that the Arab League is supporting a “military solution” to the conflict instead of peace talks.

Iran also criticized the move, calling it illegitimate, and a “dangerous precedent” set by the Arab League.  “Handing Syria’s seat to the so-called provisional government is a danagerous precedent by the memberes of the Arab League,” said Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi.

The original Syrian embassy’s doors were closed in November 2011, when diplomatic ties with the Gulf countries were severed after Syria rejected the Arab League’s peace proposal to end its campaign of violence against demonstrators, and instead resorted to a bloody crackdown on the rebellion.  The embassy continues to remain inactive.

For further information, please see:

Al Jazeera — Syria Opposition Opens Embassy in Qatar — 28 March 2013

Arab News — Syrian Opposition Opens ‘Embassy’ in Qatar — 28 March 2013

Global Times — Coalition Opens Syrian Embassy — 28 March 2013

Al Shorfa — Syrian Opposition Opens Office in Qatar — 27 March 2013

All Voices — Syrian Rebels Open new ‘Embassy’ in Qatar — 27 March 2013

Global Post — Syria Rebels Open ‘Embassy’ in Qatar — 27 March 2013

Ya Libnan — Syrian Opposition gets the Embassy in Qatar — 27 March 2013