Syria’s Interim President Calls for Unity at National Dialogue Conference

Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria’s interim president, described a national dialogue conference as a “historic opportunity” for rebuilding the country after Assad’s regime. The conference addressed issues like transitional justice and economic reforms, but faced criticism for excluding key groups such as the Kurdish-led SDF. The international community is closely watching developments and sanctions to support reconstruction efforts.

Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, declared that the country is presented with a “historic” opportunity to rebuild following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad. During a national dialogue conference, he highlighted the integration of armed groups into a unified military and emphasized the necessity for the state to maintain a monopoly on weapons, stating that Syria’s “strength lies in its unity.”

The conference convened 600 delegates tasked with proposing recommendations on transitional justice, economic issues, and the development of a new constitution, which are intended to shape a forthcoming transitional government. However, the process has faced criticism for being rushed, particularly due to the exclusion of the Kurdish-led militias controlling northeastern Syria.

Bashar al-Assad’s regime lasted over 50 years, marked by authoritarian rule. After the Assad regime suppressed a peaceful pro-democracy uprising in 2011, the conflict escalated into a civil war, resulting in over 600,000 deaths and the displacement of 12 million individuals. On December 8, al-Assad fled to Russia as forces led by Sharaa’s group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), took over Damascus in just 12 days.

Following his movement’s success, Sharaa assumed the presidency for the transitional period and announced the cancellation of the 2012 constitution and the dissolution of existing state institutions. He pledged to hold a national dialogue conference to determine Syria’s future trajectory, which will precede a “constitutional declaration” for the transition.

Sharaa expressed that the moment represents an “exceptional, historic and rare opportunity” that must be utilized for the benefit of the Syrian people. He stated, “Syria liberated itself on its own, and it suits it to build itself on its own.” The organizing committee outlined the formation of six working groups to tackle issues like transitional justice, a new constitution, institutional reforms, and economic models.

Recommendations from these groups will be non-binding yet presented to the new transitional government that is set to take office imminently. Sharaa pledged the establishment of a transitional justice body to hold accountable those responsible for civil war crimes, reiterating the need for non-state armed groups to disarm and for the state to monopolize the use of force.

He stated, “The unity of arms and their monopoly by the state is not a luxury but a duty and an obligation.” Despite the transitional government’s forces maintaining control over key cities, various armed groups continue to hold significant portions of territory, including the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which have resisted integration into the new army.

The exclusion of the SDF and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) from the dialogue has raised concerns. SDF spokesperson Farhad Shami criticized the exclusion, asserting that the conference simply caters to external interests rather than pursuing genuine solutions. Moutasem Sioufi from the civil society group The Day After underscored the necessity for an inclusive dialogue involving all influential groups in Syria.

The international community is closely monitoring the conference outcomes to ensure they involve diverse ethnic and religious groups in a political process. The U.S., U.K., and EU have imposed sanctions on Syria in response to governmental atrocities during the civil war but have recently eased some restrictions to facilitate humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts, contingent on the new leadership’s progress toward democracy.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani welcomed this easing of sanctions while denouncing remaining sanctions as “illegitimate.” Meanwhile, HTS faces separate sanctions due to its classification as a terrorist organization by multiple entities, including the UN and U.S.

In summary, the dialogue conference represents a significant yet controversial step towards rebuilding post-Assad Syria. Significant criticisms arise regarding the exclusion of key groups like the SDF, which has implications for national unity. The outcomes will be critical in shaping the political landscape and addressing transitional justice, inclusivity, and economic reforms. Moreover, international sanctions and their status will impact the transitional government’s ability to implement changes effectively.

Original Source: www.bbc.com