DAMASCUS, Syria — A representative of the committee organizing a national dialogue conference in Syria indicated on Friday that it remains undecided whether the event will occur prior to or after the establishment of a new government.
The exact date for the conference is still pending, and discussions concerning the timing are open to public input, stated Hassan al-Daghim, spokesperson for the committee, during an interview conducted in Damascus. He noted that the establishment of a transitional government prior to the conference would be typical, while also mentioning that the current caretaker government might continue until the national dialogue concludes.
Al-Daghim explained that the main topics of the upcoming conference will include the development of a new constitution, economic issues, transitional justice, institutional reforms, and the relationship between the authorities and the Syrian population. He clarified that the results from the national dialogue would consist of recommendations that, while non-binding, would be crucial for the new leadership as they move forward. “These recommendations are more than mere advice,” he emphasized, “They are anticipated by the President of the Republic to inform future actions.”
The political landscape shifted dramatically after the overthrow of former President Bashir Assad in December during a rapid rebel offensive. Following this, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the dominant former rebel entity currently governing Syria, initiated an interim administration primarily composed of members from its “salvation government,” which previously operated in northwestern Syria. At that time, plans were announced to form a new government through a comprehensive and inclusive process by March. In January, Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly a leader of HTS, was designated as Syria’s interim president after a gathering of various former rebel factions. These groups collectively agreed to abolish the existing constitution, disband the former national army and security service, and dissolve established political parties.
During these discussions, the militias present reached a consensus to disband and integrate their members into the proposed national army and security forces. However, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which exercises control over regions in northeastern Syria, did not participate in these meetings.
Current international expectations are pressing al-Sharaa to honor commitments towards a genuinely inclusive political transition. Geir Pedersen, the U.N. special envoy for Syria, remarked this past week that the establishment of a “new inclusive government” by March 1 could significantly influence the potential lifting of Western sanctions as Syria embarks on its rebuilding efforts.
Al-Daghim elaborated that the resolutions made during the January assembly of former rebel factions concentrated on “security matters that impact every citizen’s life,” highlighting the urgency of these topics, which cannot be postponed for the sake of a wider inclusion initiative. Recently, the preparatory committee has been conducting meetings across various regions in Syria to gather feedback ahead of the central conference. Al-Daghim noted a general agreement among participants regarding the necessity for “transitional justice and national unity.”
“There is widespread opposition to the idea of quotas, cantons, federalization, or similar concepts,” he added.
He also pointed out that there was variance regarding the prioritization of issues. For example, residents in the coastal cities of Latakia and Tartous expressed concerns about the low wages for public sector employees, whereas those in Idlib and areas surrounding Damascus, which suffered significant destruction over nearly 14 years of civil conflict, prioritized reconstruction.
The number of attendees expected for the national conference has yet to be finalized but could be between 400 to 1,000. Al-Daghim mentioned that possible attendees may include religious leaders, academics, artists, politicians, and representatives from civil society, some of whom are among the millions of Syrians displaced abroad.
While the committee claims that the dialogue will be inclusive of all Syrian communities, individuals associated with Assad’s government, as well as armed groups unwilling to integrate into the national army—most notably the SDF—are excluded. Al-Daghim confirmed that the Kurdish population would still be represented at the conference, regardless of the SDF’s participation.
“The Kurds are an integral part of the Syrian populace and the foundation of the Syrian state,” he remarked. “They are Syrians, irrespective of their location.”
The exact date for the conference is still pending, and discussions concerning the timing are open to public input, stated Hassan al-Daghim, spokesperson for the committee, during an interview conducted in Damascus. He noted that the establishment of a transitional government prior to the conference would be typical, while also mentioning that the current caretaker government might continue until the national dialogue concludes.
Al-Daghim explained that the main topics of the upcoming conference will include the development of a new constitution, economic issues, transitional justice, institutional reforms, and the relationship between the authorities and the Syrian population. He clarified that the results from the national dialogue would consist of recommendations that, while non-binding, would be crucial for the new leadership as they move forward. “These recommendations are more than mere advice,” he emphasized, “They are anticipated by the President of the Republic to inform future actions.”
The political landscape shifted dramatically after the overthrow of former President Bashir Assad in December during a rapid rebel offensive. Following this, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the dominant former rebel entity currently governing Syria, initiated an interim administration primarily composed of members from its “salvation government,” which previously operated in northwestern Syria. At that time, plans were announced to form a new government through a comprehensive and inclusive process by March. In January, Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly a leader of HTS, was designated as Syria’s interim president after a gathering of various former rebel factions. These groups collectively agreed to abolish the existing constitution, disband the former national army and security service, and dissolve established political parties.
During these discussions, the militias present reached a consensus to disband and integrate their members into the proposed national army and security forces. However, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which exercises control over regions in northeastern Syria, did not participate in these meetings.
Current international expectations are pressing al-Sharaa to honor commitments towards a genuinely inclusive political transition. Geir Pedersen, the U.N. special envoy for Syria, remarked this past week that the establishment of a “new inclusive government” by March 1 could significantly influence the potential lifting of Western sanctions as Syria embarks on its rebuilding efforts.
Al-Daghim elaborated that the resolutions made during the January assembly of former rebel factions concentrated on “security matters that impact every citizen’s life,” highlighting the urgency of these topics, which cannot be postponed for the sake of a wider inclusion initiative. Recently, the preparatory committee has been conducting meetings across various regions in Syria to gather feedback ahead of the central conference. Al-Daghim noted a general agreement among participants regarding the necessity for “transitional justice and national unity.”
“There is widespread opposition to the idea of quotas, cantons, federalization, or similar concepts,” he added.
He also pointed out that there was variance regarding the prioritization of issues. For example, residents in the coastal cities of Latakia and Tartous expressed concerns about the low wages for public sector employees, whereas those in Idlib and areas surrounding Damascus, which suffered significant destruction over nearly 14 years of civil conflict, prioritized reconstruction.
The number of attendees expected for the national conference has yet to be finalized but could be between 400 to 1,000. Al-Daghim mentioned that possible attendees may include religious leaders, academics, artists, politicians, and representatives from civil society, some of whom are among the millions of Syrians displaced abroad.
While the committee claims that the dialogue will be inclusive of all Syrian communities, individuals associated with Assad’s government, as well as armed groups unwilling to integrate into the national army—most notably the SDF—are excluded. Al-Daghim confirmed that the Kurdish population would still be represented at the conference, regardless of the SDF’s participation.
“The Kurds are an integral part of the Syrian populace and the foundation of the Syrian state,” he remarked. “They are Syrians, irrespective of their location.”
