MOSCOW (Sputnik) — During his pre-election campaign, Trump expressed doubt in the aims of the Syrian opposition and questioned Obama's support for the armed groups. He also vowed to seek a better relationship with Russia, which backs Syrian President Bashar Assad.
"We hope that the new US administration will play the normal and logical role of the US as the defender of democracy that helps people gain their rights… Without a political transition, there will be no peaceful solution in Syria and no stability, not just in Syria but in the region," Hijab said, as quoted by The Wall Street Journal.
Hijab added that the HNC had already established proxy contacts with Trump's team and criticized current President Barack Obama over failing to end the conflict while attempting to appease Iran, which backs the Damascus government.
"Obama raised the expectations of the Syrian people… But unfortunately he then abandoned the Syrian people and gave Bashar the green light," Hijab said.
Another Syrian opposition representative said that HNC is counting on Trump's anti-Iran rhetoric and his criticism of the Iran nuclear deal to spell an end to appeasement and for the United States take a harsher stance on Syria.
Trump has described the Iranian nuclear agreement which saw international sanctions against the country lifted, as a "bad deal" which should be scrapped.
Trump's inauguration is due on January 20.
