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Syria’s National Dialogue Concludes, Marking a Key Moment in Political Transition
Syria’s National Dialogue, a pivotal event in the country’s political transition following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad in December, concluded on Tuesday.
The one-day conference, which was only announced on Sunday, gave many participants little time to prepare. A statement issued at the end of the event outlined plans for drafting a new constitution and emphasized the importance of freedom of expression and human rights.
Among the attendees was Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who had previously called on Syrians to “stand united and hand in hand to heal the wounds and wash away the pains after decades of dictatorship.”
Here are three key takeaways from the conference:
1. What Will Syria’s New Constitution Be?
The revolution’s complete rejection of the decades-long rule of the al-Assad family and the Baath Party made a new constitution inevitable. The nature of this constitution will offer significant insight into Syria’s future, especially as doubts persist about al-Sharaa’s intentions due to his past affiliation with al-Qaeda.
Al-Sharaa has distanced himself from his past and largely avoided divisive rhetoric. During the Dialogue, delegates were divided into working groups focused on topics such as the constitution, freedoms, the economy, and civil society.
Houda Atassi, a member of the Preparatory Committee for the National Dialogue, stated that the committee had called for a “temporary constitutional declaration” and a “temporary legislative council” to help shape the country’s future. The draft constitution aims to achieve “a balance between authorities, establishing justice, freedom, and equality, and laying the foundation for a state of law and institutions.”
However, no further details were provided, and the workshops were confidential, leaving questions about the constitution’s final form unresolved just days before the March 1 deadline for a new transitional government to take power.
2. Sovereignty and Israel’s Actions
The closing statement strongly condemned Israel’s actions in Syria since al-Assad’s overthrow, calling them a “blatant violation of the sovereignty of the Syrian state.”
Israel has moved its forces into a buffer zone between Syria and the Golan Heights (Syrian territory illegally occupied by Israel) and has taken control of areas outside the buffer zone, including Mount Hermon. It has also conducted repeated bombing raids on military sites, including attacks on the night of the conference.
The National Dialogue called for the “immediate and unconditional withdrawal” of Israeli forces from Syria and rejected a threat by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that his country would not allow Syrian military forces in southern Syria.
The conference also opposed Israel’s attempts to stoke sectarian tensions by indicating it was willing to protect Syria’s minority Druze community. The committee stressed the “unity of the Syrian Arab Republic” and “sovereignty over its entire territory, rejecting any form of fragmentation, division, or ceding any part of the homeland.”
Syria’s new government has been in talks with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led group that controls much of northeastern Syria. The U.S.-backed SDF has been hesitant to surrender its arms and seeks some autonomous rule, which the Syrian government opposes.
3. Rights and Freedoms
The closing statement called for “supporting the role of women in all fields” and “rejecting all forms of discrimination based on race, religion, or sect.” It also rejected calls for ethnic or religious quotas in government, a position previously expressed by al-Sharaa and other ministers.
The role of women in the new government remains unclear. Aisha al-Dibs, head of the Women’s Affairs Office in the caretaker government, stated in December that women would play a key role but would not “go beyond the priorities of their God-given nature” and would focus on their “educational role in the family.”
However, Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani pushed back, stating that the new authorities “believe in the active role of women within society.”
The Dialogue also emphasized the protection of freedoms, including freedom of opinion and expression—a stark contrast to the previous regime, where Syrians were routinely jailed for their speech.
Another key issue was achieving transitional justice and holding “those responsible for crimes” accountable, while “rejecting all forms of violence, incitement, and revenge.” Reports of revenge attacks against individuals associated with the al-Assad regime in Homs and other areas have surfaced in recent weeks.
Was the National Dialogue Rushed?
The National Dialogue was met with confusion, as many invitations were sent out at the last minute. Opposition politician George Sabra, who lives in exile in France, posted on social media that he received an invitation on February 23—just two days before the event—but could not travel to Damascus in time.
Critics argue that the hurried announcement reflects a broader pattern that concerns Syrians advocating for democratic pluralism. Little detail has been provided about the timeline for elections or the level of freedom in the new Syria.
Some have also criticized the lack of representation on the preparatory committee. However, despite the sudden announcement, approximately 600 Syrians attended, and many view the Dialogue as an important step toward elections and a new Syria free from decades of dictatorship.
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