National dialogue forum kicks off in Damascus
DAMASCUS,(ST)_The two-day national dialogue Forum kicked off on Sunday at Dama Rose Hotel in Damascus with participation of a number of national parties, activists and personalities.
The conferees are to debate the endorsed three-stage political plan for resolving the crisis in Syria, constitution, national charter, time table of implementing each stage, laws of election, media and parties, road map drawn up by the national opposition forces conference to safely surpass the crisis.
The forum spokesman, Adel Naeesa, said: “Building modern Syria requires dialogue and discussion of constitution and laws of media, elections and local administration,” adding that freedom should be based on principles of development, justice, fair distribution of national wealth.
Building trust
National Reconciliation Minister, Ali Haidar, reiterated that the only way to solve the ongoing crisis is through political solution national dialogue among the Syrian people.”
“Those who reject sitting on negotiation under false pretexts are responsible for blood shedding in Syria,” the minister said.
He considers the forum as a real opportunity to build trust among Syrians and a step forwards to confront strict people everyplace to halt destruction.
“Dialogue is unconditional and excludes no one… Syrian people, themselves, are to judge actions not intentions,” Haidar said, citing that the whole world is investing and exploiting the crisis to rebuild a new system.
He made comparison between the dirty role of the US, France, Britain, Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia which are involved in shedding blood in Syria, and the constructive role of Russia, Iran and BRICS which insist on lending Syrian people a helping hand to surpass the crisis.
Secretary General of the Syrian Communist Party, Ammar Bekdash, said that dialogue is not an emergency process; rather it is a firm policy to be followed. “Democracy means dialogue”.
He pointed out the successful experience of the party’s alliance with the Progressive National Front’s parties, citing that the party is ready to hold talks with all citizens.
Synchronization
Bekdash also talked about an important point related to logical synchronization between terrorism-supporter states’ adherence to halt funding gunmen and halting gunmen’s terrorist acts.
Member of the Baath Arab Socialist Party’s Central Committee, Dr. Khalil Mash’hadeya, said: “the forum would pave the ground for holding a comprehensive national dialogue,” asserting need for cooperation with friendly regional and international efforts to abort conspiracy.
Russia and Iran
Russia’s Ambassador in Damascus called for unifying efforts of the national opposition that rejects violence, extremism and foreign meddling, and seeks to comprehensive dialogue.
“The main task now is to halt violence and head towards dialogue under Geneva Communique without pre-conditions to bring about political solution to the crisis,” the ambassador said.
He underscored that parties which opposes political settlement are behind increasing violence, noting that the scholar Dr. Mohammad Ramadan al-Bouti was assassinated because he called for dialogue and peace.
The Russian official said that his country will go ahead with calling for launching comprehensive dialogue and halting violence in cooperation with the Syrian government and all states that stand by reaching political settlement to the crisis.
The Iranian Ambassador’s Assistant, for his part, said: “Today-forum in which the Syrian people’s real representatives are taking part would lead Syria to victory,” adding that supplying opposition with arms would complicate the matter.
Coordination commission absence
Member of national dialogue committee, Tareq al-Ahmad, wondered whether the conferees in today’s forum do represent no one in Syria so as Europe and the Arab League claim that Doha-formed coalition is the only and legitimate representative of the Syrians.
He, in addition, wondered at absence of coordination commission which was calling for holding such meeting.
All participating parities’ representatives gave speeches, stressing importance of the forum.
Basma Qaddour