Atassi resigns after two controversial years as head of Coalition's Assistance Unit

Translation by Yusra Ahmed

(Zaman Al Wasl)- The prominent opposition figure Suhair Atassi quit her position as head of  the Assistance Coordination Unit (ACU), the main aid and relief body of the National Coalition after two years of work to devote herself again for political action, said in statement posted online.

Eqtsad, fellow business website, mentioned that Atassi would not withdraw her resignation as she did before. “I have resigned before, but I changed my decision under the Chief of the National Coalition’s request, at the time my resignation was as a response to the delay in investigation in reasons for the ACU’s workers' strike, but now, my decision is final and I started thinking of it a month ago.”

“I think I have given all I could in the last two years, I decided to resign today leaving the Unit strong enough to carry on working, I would like to fully work in political field as the Syrian Revolution still in need to more political activity and support in Arabic and international events, therefore I would concentrate on this matter in forthcoming period and I would prioritise it within my interests and my commitment to the Syrian Revolution,” Atassi said in her resignation statement.

Atassi mentions that she is proud of her work with leaders and employees of the ACU as she considers the unit a professional institutional humanitarian organization works according to rules and regulations.

The Assistance Coordination Unit “ACU” aims to bring aid from countries supporting the Syrian revolution to help and assist Syrians inside Syria and in neighboring countries. The Unit and its employees even the Director were subject to criticism.

Atassi thanked all countries supporting the Syrian Revolution especially Qatar.

Atassi is a member of a prominent political family from Homs. She was an active member in Damascus Spring Rally in 2001, but it was targeted and suppressed by the regime. She revived the forum online in 2009 in order to help promote democracy and human rights in Syria. On 16 March 2011 she was arrested for her activities.

In December 2013 Atassi resigned as Vice-President of the Coalition after a corruption scandal involving aid money, but kept her position as chairwoman for the opposition aid agency, the Assistance Coordination Unit, based in Turkey.