With 18 points… National Dialogue Conference concludes its work

The preparatory committee for the Syrian National Dialogue Conference announced the final statement of the conference, which held its sessions for one day yesterday, Tuesday, February 25.

The statement read, “In the presence of representatives from various societal sectors and communities, and in an atmosphere of consensus and a commitment to the supreme national interests, the National Dialogue Conference took place today at the People’s Palace in Damascus. After the opening of the conference by the President of the Republic, the participants were distributed among the dialogue halls, where they engaged in transparent and comprehensive discussions on various critical issues, leading to 18 outcomes,” which are:

1. Maintaining the unity of the Syrian Arab Republic and its sovereignty over all its territories, and rejecting any form of fragmentation or division, or the concession of any part of the homeland.
2. Condemning the Israeli incursion into Syrian territory as a blatant violation of Syrian state sovereignty, demanding its immediate and unconditional withdrawal, rejecting the provocative statements from the Israeli Prime Minister, and calling on the international community and regional organizations to assume their responsibilities toward the Syrian people and press to stop the aggression and violations.
3. Conferring weapons solely in the hands of the state, building a professional army, and regarding any armed formations outside the official institutions as unlawful groups.
4. Urgently announcing a temporary constitutional framework that meets the transitional phase’s requirements and ensures filling the constitutional vacuum, thus expediting the work of Syrian state institutions.
5. The necessity to expedite the formation of a temporary legislative council that will undertake the powers of the legislative authority based on criteria of efficiency and fair representation.
6. Forming a constitutional committee to prepare a draft of a permanent constitution for the country, achieving a balance between authorities, reinforcing the values of justice, freedom, and equality, and establishing a state of law and institutions.
7. Promoting freedom as a supreme value in society, considering it a precious gain for which the Syrian people have paid with their blood, and ensuring freedom of opinion and expression.
8. Respecting human rights, supporting women’s roles in all fields, protecting children’s rights, caring for people with disabilities, and activating the role of youth in the state and society.
9. Establishing the principle of citizenship, rejecting any forms of discrimination based on race, religion, or sect, and achieving the principle of equal opportunity, away from ethnic and religious quotas.
10. Achieving transitional justice by holding accountable those responsible for crimes and violations, reforming the judicial system, enacting necessary legislation, and establishing appropriate mechanisms to ensure justice and regain rights.
11. Reinforcing the principle of peaceful coexistence among all components of the Syrian people, rejecting all forms of violence, incitement, and revenge, to enhance societal stability and civil peace.
12. Achieving political development based on principles that guarantee the participation of all community segments in political life, enacting appropriate laws for that, and affirming procedures for political exclusion based on fair standards.
13. Launching the wheel of economic development, developing the agriculture and industry sectors, by adopting stimulating economic policies that enhance growth, encourage investment, protect investors, meet people’s needs, and support the prosperity of the country.
14. Calling for lifting the international sanctions imposed on Syria, which have become a direct burden on the Syrian people after the regime’s fall, increasing their suffering and obstructing the reconstruction process and the return of displaced persons and refugees.
15. Reforming public institutions, restructuring them, and beginning the process of digital transformation to enhance institutional efficiency, increase effectiveness, combat corruption and bureaucratic excess, and reconsider employment standards based on patriotism, integrity, and competence.
16. The necessity of involving civil society institutions in supporting society, activating the role of charitable associations to assist government efforts in reconstruction, and supporting the state for civil society organizations to ensure an effective role in achieving development and stability.
17. Developing the educational system, reforming curricula, and creating plans aimed at filling educational gaps, ensuring quality education, focusing on vocational education to create new job opportunities, and linking education to technology to ensure a better future for upcoming generations.
18. Promoting a culture of dialogue in Syrian society, continuing discussions on various levels and platforms, and finding appropriate mechanisms for that.

The statement concluded that in adherence to the principle of transparency, a detailed report will be issued by the preparatory committee, presenting the contributions and opinions of attendees at the National Dialogue Conference.

Additionally, the statement emphasized that in honoring the memory of the “martyrs,” the wounded, detainees, the missing, the displaced, and their families, as well as all those who made sacrifices for the Syrian people, this statement represents a covenant and national charter that all active forces commit to, and it is a fundamental step in the journey of building a new Syrian state—a state of freedom, justice, and law.

The second day of the Syrian National Dialogue Conference included discussion sessions – February 25, 2025 (Enab Baladi/Anas al-Khouli)