The national dialogue conference in Syria will begin on Monday, focusing on the country’s political future after Assad’s fall. Sessions will discuss constitutional reforms, institutional restructuring, and economic plans. Outcomes will offer nonbinding recommendations to new leaders. The organization faced delays in announcing the date and finalizing participant numbers, with significant groups notably excluded from discussions.
Syria’s much-anticipated national dialogue conference is set to commence on Monday, following the collapse of former President Bashar Assad’s regime. The primary session is scheduled for Tuesday, where attendees will engage in workshops examining various topics, including transitional justice, the development of a new constitution, government reform, personal freedoms, civil society roles, and economic policies. The conference aims to produce nonbinding recommendations for the nation’s new leadership.
Following the immediate aftermath of Assad’s downfall due to a swift rebel offensive in December, the scheduling of this conference had previously experienced uncertainty. The announcement of the date came just a day before the event was to begin. Just two days prior, spokesperson Hassan al-Daghim indicated that the conference date remained undecided, emphasizing that citizens would contribute to its scheduling and that participation was expected to range from 400 to 1,000 individuals.
The final list of participants and the selection process were not clarified by Monday. According to the organizing committee, they conducted over 30 meetings throughout Syria to gather input from approximately 4,000 citizens in preparation for the conference. This effort aimed to ensure diverse representation from various segments of Syrian society, as reported by the state news agency SANA.
Participants have consistently advocated for a temporary constitutional declaration, an economic strategy, government sector reorganization, citizen involvement in institutional management, and the enhancement of security and stability. Since Assad’s removal, the primary rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has established an interim government primarily formed from its prior leadership, declaring intentions to create a more inclusive administration by March.
In January, Ahmad al-Sharaa, former HTS leader, was named interim president following a coalition of former rebel factions. It was agreed to abolish the existing constitution along with the national army, security services, and political parties. Additionally, armed factions participating in the dialogues agreed to dissolve in order to incorporate their members into the new national army and security forces. However, it is noteworthy that the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which have significant authority in northeastern Syria, were not invited to participate in this national dialogue.
In summary, Syria’s national dialogue conference is poised to provide a critical platform for shaping the country’s political landscape following the ousting of President Bashar Assad. The conference will address vital issues affecting governance and society, with an intent to gather diverse perspectives. Yet, the exclusion of significant factions like the Syrian Democratic Forces raises concerns about the comprehensiveness of the dialogue.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
