Hassan al-Daghim, the spokesperson for the preparatory committee of the National Dialogue Conference, clarified the committee’s working mechanisms for the upcoming period, linking the commencement of the conference to the maturity of the communication process and the preparation of preliminary implementation papers.
Al-Daghim stated in a press conference attended by Enab Baladi and broadcast by the official news agency (SANA) today, February 13, that the invitation to the conference will begin when the communication process matures and initial papers for implementation are prepared.
He added that the committee’s activities will be distributed across all levels, represented by preparation, communication, provincial visits, and meetings with citizens and elites.
The committee will also consider practical means to ensure the representation of social segments in terms of population distribution, expertise, specializations, and social influence.
According to al-Daghim, the preparatory committee relies on initial criteria for inviting to the conference, which include: nationalism, influence, specialization, symbolism, experience, and benefit.
He mentioned that the issues to be discussed at the conference are left for exchanging viewpoints, provincial visits, and arranging working papers for the conference, which the committee will disclose in due course.
Regarding the participation of provinces in the conference, al-Daghim clarified that meetings will be held in every Syrian province to address its specifics, diversity, and to choose national figures capable of representing its interests in line with the national interest, as he expressed.
The spokesperson for the preparatory committee confirmed that its work is to manage the national dialogue, organizing, arranging, and facilitating, and to assist citizens and conference members in reaching the desired outcomes.
He pointed out that the committee’s work will conclude as soon as the final statement is issued, as detailed in the presidential decision.
He considered that the committee began its work based on and inspired by the previous phase in preparing mechanisms related to both content management and technical administration.
Assignment from al-Sharaa
The Syrian president for the transitional phase, Ahmed al-Sharaa, issued a decision naming the members of the preparatory committee for the National Dialogue Conference that is set to be held in Damascus soon, including five men and two women.
Al-Sharaa assigned Hassan al-Daghim, Maher Alloush, Mohammed Mastat, Mustafa al-Mousa, Yousef al-Hajr, Hind Kabawat, and Houda Atassi as members of the preparatory committee.
According to the decision, the newly formed committee will establish its internal regulations and set its working criteria to ensure the success of the national dialogue, with its work concluding once the final statement of the anticipated conference is issued.
On January 30, al-Sharaa spoke in his address, following his appointment as President of the Syrian Republic by the General Command, about steps in the political process in Syria during the transitional phase leading up to the elections.
Al-Sharaa said at that time that he would announce the preparatory committee for the National Dialogue Conference, affirming that it would be a “direct platform for deliberations, consultations, and listening to different viewpoints regarding the upcoming political program.”
He confirmed that efforts will be made to form a comprehensive transitional government that “reflects the diversity of Syria with its men, women, and youth, and undertakes the task of building new Syrian institutions until it reaches the stage of free and fair elections.”
It is expected that there will be an announcement of a preparatory committee to select a small legislative council to fill the vacuum during the transitional phase, based on “its mandate of current tasks” and the decision to dissolve the People’s Assembly.
After completing the aforementioned steps, the constitutional declaration will be announced to serve as the legal reference for the transitional phase.