Former Opposition representative in UK discloses reasons of resignation

By Abdullah Al Ghadawi; Translation by Yusra Ahmed

(Zaman Al Wasl- Interview)- Syrian National Coalition’s representative in the United Kingdom spoke reservedly to Zaman al-Wasl about his work within the Coalition and reasons behind his resignation.

Walid Saffour said that he had resigned from his position as a Representative to the National Coalition in London in August 2014. Reasons for taking that decision had accumulated over a long time, but the most important one were the internal conflicts, disagreements, contradicted statements and political attitudes which made him embarrassed especially he was in London, the capital of Politics and Media.

“Not to forget the complete ignorance of the political etiquette and institutional work in the Coalition, beside the individualism and fanaticism among members and leaders, adding to all that the lack of resources.”

The former Coalition’s representative said that he worked very hard the moment he was assigned for the position on 26th of November 2012, moreover after the 2-days seminar the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs held on 10th of January 2013, which was attended by 70 ambassador, Directors of Research centers and politicians, he managed to make a communication network to help him in future, but unfortunately he did not receive any support from the Coalition’s leadership.

“Situation started to get worse after the resignation of Moaz al-Khatib and the National Coalition's expansion, added to the new leadership, when the Coalition’s leadership stopped communication with its representatives in London despite frequent attempts to communication with them but no reply from the Coalition’s leadership or its General Body,” Saffour detailed.

The resigned Coalition’s representative expressed his embarrassment from the situation, especially in front of professional British and international media, where they demanded details about the situation and latest developments, where he was not able to speak in many subject without referring to the Coalition’s leadership, Adding to that changing or re-interpreting essential principles over night.

“All that reduced the respect of the National Coalition which became a subject for criticism and that forced me to consider resignation as an option,” Saffour said.

Saffour confirmed that the National Coalition’s leadership ignored its representatives in the UK, even they did not contact them or inform them about the visits to the United Kingdom as a part of the Friends' of Syria activities.

“I used to know the details about the Coalition’s visits from the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that considered the Coalition’s acts as disrespect to the political etiquette, when I blame the Coalition’s members for their ignorance, they replied that they did not need to inform me about the visit.”

Saffour explained that they as a National Coalition’s representatives in the UK, they were promised to have convenient office and professional staff, it was thought that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UK would cover the cost, but after communication the ministry explained that would not be its duty.

When the plan changed to get the cost cover from the coalition, the new leadership did not approve the modest budget for staff and an office which forced Saffour to work from his house.

According to the former Ambassador, he used to do alone all diplomatic and political stuff  with the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs and politicians, besides the activities of aid and relief, the media coverage and public relations, some voluntary work helped, while others misused the position.

“In Spring 2014, I took the resignation’s decision, but I waited for the new election hoping the new leadership would have been more cooperative, especially when Hadi al-Bahra won the Coalition’s Presidency, because I had contacted him in December 2013 and explained to him the difficulties we faced.

"However after communication with him I received no answers when I forwarded the budget plan, even Ahmad Tomeh, the Prime Minister and Mohammed Sarmini did not answer my emails and phones,” Saffour detailed.

After all,  he sent his resignation on 10th of August 2014 without explaining reasons, which surprisingly was accepted the very next day.

In the end the former Coalition’s representative in the United Kingdom mentioned that he had lots of information but preferred not to talk about them, and he had a file of communication and information.

“I wish the new leadership of the National Coalition would be able realized the defect and give its representatives more interest and communication besides providing them with needed sources to do their duties in helping Syrian people, besides supervising their work by experienced staff.