Syrian National Dialogue Conference: No Date Set Yet
In a nation and international community eagerly anticipating the historic National Dialogue conference aimed at uniting various factions to chart a new course for Syria following the fall of former President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime, it appears that the event is not imminent.
Five sources, including two officials from the Ministry of Information, another member of the new administration, and two diplomats familiar with the ongoing efforts to plan the conference, have revealed that Syria’s new rulers have not yet decided on a date for this dialogue.
Invitations Yet to Be Sent
According to these sources, formal invitations have not been sent out, despite informal
communications with some personalities, as reported by Reuters. However, officials expect the
dialogue to take place before March 1 to address issues such as the suspension of parliament and
the constitution, and to kickstart the process of drafting a new constitution.
Several members of opposition groups, who sought to counter Assad during the 13-year civil war,
have expressed reservations about what they describe as a lack of transparency in how the
conference is being prepared. Bassam Al-Kuwatli, president of the small Syrian Liberal Party,
stated that “the new administration is still a military group that won power and doesn’t yet feel
the need to share that power,” although he added, “this might change; we don’t know.”
Around 1,200 Representatives
Previously, some Syrian media organizations had reported that the conference was scheduled for
January 4th-5th, 2025, aiming to gather around 1,200 delegates from across Syria’s religious,
ethnic, and political spectrum.
Ahmad Al-Sharaa, the leader of the new administration and effectively the de facto ruler of the country, had previously assured that there would be a comprehensive political process for drafting the constitution, which could take up to three years, followed by elections approximately four years later.
The delay in setting a concrete date for the National Dialogue conference adds another layer of complexity to Syria’s already tumultuous political transition. The international community, alongside Syrian citizens, will undoubtedly keep a close eye on further developments as the country navigates its path towards a potential new political era.
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