Syria’s National Dialogue Conference to Commence Amid Political Transition

Syria’s national dialogue conference, aimed at defining the country’s political future following Bashar Assad’s fall, starts Monday. Workshops will address transitional justice, constitutional reform, and economic strategies. The outcome will offer nonbinding recommendations to new leaders, though major groups like the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces are absent from participation.

A significant national dialogue conference in Syria is set to commence on Monday, aimed at defining the political trajectory following the ousting of former President Bashar Assad. The primary session is scheduled for Tuesday, during which attendees will engage in workshops addressing key issues such as transitional justice, constitutional framework, institutional reform, personal freedoms, civil society roles, and economic strategies.

The outcomes of this conference will yield nonbinding recommendations for Syria’s new leadership. After Assad’s downfall in December, there had been uncertainty regarding the conference, with its date announced just a day prior. Initially, the organizing committee indicated that details were still being deliberated among citizens, and participant numbers were projected between 400 and 1,000.

Recent disclosures revealed that over 30 preparatory meetings were held across various Syrian provinces, involving approximately 4,000 citizens to ensure broad representation of the nation’s demographics. Participants emphasized the need for a temporary constitutional declaration, economic strategies, government restructuring, citizen engagement in institutions, and bolstered security measures.

Following Assad’s regime collapse, the prominent former rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), established an interim administration largely composed of members from its previous governance structure. They pledged to form a new government inclusively by March. Recently, HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa was appointed interim president after a coalition of former rebel factions agreed to nullify the existing constitution as well as the national army and political parties.

Additionally, armed factions resolved to disband and integrate their members into a new national army and security forces. Notably, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, influential in northeastern Syria, were not invited to the dialogue, raising questions about their exclusion from the post-Assad political reconstruction.

The upcoming national dialogue conference in Syria is a pivotal event aimed at shaping the nation’s future following Bashar Assad’s exit. With workshops focusing on essential societal issues, the process highlights a commitment to inclusive governance and representation. However, the absence of significant groups, such as the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, introduces potential challenges to national unity and comprehensive reform. The outcomes, albeit nonbinding, signify a critical step towards a reformed political landscape in Syria.

Original Source: www.voanews.com