Syria’s national dialogue conference starts Monday, aiming to shape the country’s political future following Bashar Assad’s removal. Key topics include justice, constitutional reform, and economic strategies. The expected outcomes are advisory recommendations for leadership. Despite extensive preparatory efforts involving thousands, some factions, notably the Kurdish-led forces, remain excluded from participation.
Syria’s long-anticipated national dialogue conference is scheduled to commence on Monday, aiming to define the political landscape post-Bashar Assad. The main discussions will take place on Tuesday, covering critical topics such as transitional justice, constitutional framework, institution rebuilding, personal freedoms, civil society’s role, and economic strategies. The conference aims to produce non-binding recommendations for Syria’s new leaders.
The planning for this conference has been dynamic, with details solidified shortly before its initiation. Just a day before, the conference date was confirmed, amidst previous uncertainty about its timing and participant numbers. Organizing committee spokesperson Hassan al-Daghim noted that discussions regarding the date were open, indicating a potential participant range from 400 to 1,000 individuals.
The committee reported conducting over 30 preparatory meetings throughout Syria, engaging around 4,000 citizens to ensure diverse societal representation ahead of the conference, as reported by the state-run news agency SANA. Participants expressed a desire for a temporary constitutional declaration, an economic roadmap, government sector restructuring, citizen management involvement, and enhanced security measures.
Following the ousting of Assad, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the leading former rebel faction, established a temporary administration from its “salvation government” governing portions of northwestern Syria. In early January, former HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa was nominated as interim president, marking a significant shift in governance as various factions agreed to dismantle the outdated constitution and existing military frameworks.
Additionally, armed factions reached an agreement to integrate their personnel into a new national army and security system. However, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, influential in northeastern Syria, were notably excluded from these discussions, raising concerns regarding their representation in the evolving political framework.
In conclusion, the national dialogue conference in Syria signifies a crucial step in redefining the country’s governance following the fall of Bashar Assad. With a focus on inclusivity and representation of various societal sectors, the outcomes aim to guide future political directions, although the absence of certain factions like the Kurdish-led forces poses challenges for comprehensive representation. The discussions will not only address immediate political structures but also broader societal needs and security stability.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
