Al-Dughaim: Transitional Justice is one of the basics of building the Syrian state

Spokesman for the preparatory committee for the National Dialogue Conference Hasan Al-Dughaim stressed that transitional justice is one of the basics in building the Syrian state and its development, as national reconciliation and civil peace cannot be achieved except through transitional justice, which will certainly be at the top of the priorities of the national dialogue.

In a statement to SANA, Al-Dughaim said: “The national dialogue begun with the fall of the criminal regime. All Syrians, whether at the level of intensive meetings between the leadership and popular delegations or between the popular components themselves, saw that these meetings were not merely introduction, rather, they severed as the foundation that is now culminating in the commencement of the preparatory work for the National Dialogue Conference.”

He confirmed that the committee has begun its work based on and inspired by the previous phase in preparing the mechanisms related to content management and technical administration.

Certainly, the work will cover all levels, including preparation, communication, visiting the provinces and meeting with citizens, dignitaries and the elites of Syrians, while considering practical means to ensure representation of social segments, he clarified.

Al-Dughaim added: “When the process of communication becomes ripe and the preliminary papers for implementation are prepared, certainly, there will be a call for the National Dialogue Conference, in which the Syrians will find the ground from which they will launch the building of the future of their country for the first time since 1950.

He stressed that every patriotic Syrian man or woman is a member of the national dialogue by principle. “However, given this situation, it is necessary to consider the ability to organize the National Dialogue Conference so that the content is not overshadowed by formalities”.

Thus, he stressed, “there is no doubt that patriotism, influence, specialization, symbolism, experience, and benefit are among the priorities and criteria that the preparatory committee will rely on when inviting citizens to the conference.

Regarding the participation of governments in the conference, Al-Dughaim said “meetings will be held with citizens in every Syrian governorate to understand its specificity and diversity, and to select national figures capable of representing the interests of each government in a manner consistent with the overall interest of the nation”.

He stated that there is no doubt that the committee will not seek to sectarianize society or engage in sectarian quotas; “this is completely unacceptable. However, it will take this diversity into account so that the participation of each governorate reflects its general image.”

He confirmed that the work of the committee is to manage the national dialogue, organize arrange and facilitate it, as well as to assist citizens and the conference members to reach the desired outcomes. Its work will conclude once the final statement is issued as stated in the presidential decree.

Al-Dughaim pointed out that “the issues to be discussed at the conference are left for the exchange of views, visits to the governorates, and the arrangement of working papers at the conference, which will certainly be revealed over time.

He added: “The message of the preparatory committee to the Syrian people is through its work in helping Syrians manage the dialogue among themselves and exchange their views on shaping their country’s authorities and future. The committee will ensure credibility, transparency, and neutrality in facilitating the conference’s activities”.

“After the suspension of the 2012 Constitution, the country needs to fill the constitutional vaccum with a constitutional declaration, which the President could have issued upon assuming power in the country. However, the presidency preferred for this to coincide with the national dialogue conference in order to incorporate the results and recommendations of the dialogue into the constitutional framework of the country, whether temporary or permanent.”

He stressed that the leadership’s commitment to ensuring the success of the conference is what has led to delaying its launch multiple times, even though it is currently underway in practical term.

He clarified that in this regard, the preparatory committee is completely independent and it is responsible for appointing its president, setting its agenda and determining the invited segments according to an internal system that it approved itself.

Al-Dughaim affirmed that “transitional justice is fundamental in building the Syrian state and its advancement towards revival. There can be no national reconciliation or civil peace without transitional justice, which will certainly be at the forefront of the national dialogue priorities.”