The Syrian National Dialogue Conference kicks off Tuesday.. 600 people discuss 6 basic files

The Preparatory Committee for the Syrian National Conference said that it will begin on Monday sending invitations to the people it has chosen to participate in this conference, which is expected by all Syrians, and is entrusted with setting constitutional constants, discussing pivotal issues, and determining the mechanisms for governing the country during the transitional phase.

In a press conference held on Sunday afternoon, Hassan Al-Daghim, spokesman for the aforementioned committee, confirmed that the recommendations of the national dialogue “will not be mere advice and formalities, but will be built upon for the constitutional declaration, economic identity, and institutional reform plan.” Al-Daghim explained that the committee has modified its programs based on the criticisms and observations expressed by participants in 30 dialogue sessions held across Syria’s governorates over the past few days, in which nearly four thousand men and women participated, according to Al-Daghim.

He pointed out that the committee held several dialogues "with the aim of listening to different opinions and orientations," explaining that the committee "listened to and recorded more than 2,200 interventions and received more than 700 written contributions." The National Dialogue Conference, which Syrians are eagerly awaiting, will be held on the 24th and 25th of this month, "including discussions on pivotal issues related to the future of Syria, and consolidating the foundations of justice, citizenship and stability."

According to informed sources in Damascus, about 600 people from various Syrian governorates will participate in the conference, where they will be divided into six groups to discuss six files: transitional justice, building the constitution and institutions, issues of personal freedoms, human life, the role of civil society organizations, and economic principles.

Al-Daghim pointed out that the sessions witnessed repeated demands for the necessity of issuing a temporary constitutional declaration to manage the transitional phase and the necessity of developing an economic plan that is appropriate for the phase, in addition to restructuring government sectors and involving citizens in managing institutions and enhancing security and stability to facilitate the reconstruction of state institutions.

Six main files on the tables of the Syrian "National Dialogue"

The spokesman for the Preparatory Committee considered that despite the differences in viewpoints, “diversity is a healthy indicator of the Syrians’ ability to dialogue and coexist, which reinforces the conviction that societal diversity is a source of strength for the Syrians, contrary to what the former regime tried to establish.”

Al-Daghim added that “the dialogue is not just a conference or a temporary event, but a sustainable approach to gradually and responsibly resolving national issues.” He pointed out that the National Dialogue Conference will take on a “practical character, as its work will include specialized workshops that address the issues that the committee extracted from its meetings with various segments of society. Experts, specialists and interested parties will participate in each workshop to ensure in-depth discussions and find applicable solutions.”

He considered that this conference is "the first step in a long national path that requires continuous collective work to build a new Syrian national identity that preserves civil peace and achieves the aspirations of the Syrian people towards a future worthy of their sacrifices."

Regarding the formation of the transitional government scheduled for early next month, Al-Daghim said that the formation of this government is not in line with the national dialogue process, but its formation after the national dialogue is held will allow for benefiting from the conference’s proposals. He explained that the conference will witness a large representation of detainees, noting that “there is no place for war criminals in the conference.” In an interview with Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, Al-Daghim confirmed that the conference’s recommendations “will not be mere advice,” stressing that “the constitutional declaration, economic vision, and institutional reform plan will be built on these recommendations.”

For her part, Hoda Al-Atassi, a member of the Preparatory Committee for the National Dialogue Conference, said at the conference that the committee had sensed during the dialogue sessions that preceded the conference “a broad state of consensus among Syrians,” adding: “The issues of transitional justice, constitutional construction, institutional reform, economic reform, the unity of Syrian territory, and the issues of public and personal freedoms and political freedoms emerged as basic priorities for everyone.”

New Arab