Kassioun Editorial 1216: The Pros and Cons of the “National Dialogue Conference”

The Pros

1. Any dialogue among Syrians is a positive thing; dialogue is the only way to reach real agreements that will reunite the people and the country after years of war, displacement, and de facto partition.
2. A number of participants we surveyed expressed their general satisfaction with the experience, that they were able to express their opinions completely freely, and praised the facilitation and symbolic aspects of the conference, including being held in the People’s Palace.
3. The items included in the final statement had positive features despite their generality and some negatives, and were somewhat consistent with the outcome of the discussions that took place during the conference.
4. The last item in the final statement stated that the dialogue process must continue and that appropriate mechanisms must be sought for this. This is a positive thing that can be built upon as a first step towards the “General National Congress”, which remains an urgent task on the national agenda.

The Cons

1. The introductions necessarily affect the final results, and therefore the composition of the preparatory committee, which had negligible political and social representation, was reflected in the composition of the meeting itself and made it an incomplete conference, from which essential forces and currents within the country were absent, whether in the northeast or other parts of the country, which weakened its ability to achieve its function as a basis for restoring national unity and completing the unification of Syria.
2. The haste and chaos in the way sub-dialogues in the various regions were conducted and the way invitations were sent 24 hours in advance resulted in the absence of a significant number of invitees, which reinforced and exacerbated the problem of the breadth and comprehensiveness of representation.
3. The very short time allocated for discussing and debating problems that have accumulated over decades has made it impossible to engage in real dialogues and discussions that produce consensus and creative solutions, which are in fact an absolute necessity to get out of the difficult situation the country is experiencing at all levels. The meeting turned into a platform where invitees say what they want, but there is no real interaction among their opinions, and there are no guarantees that the results reached will be adhered to, as they are nonbinding recommendations. All this tips the scales in making it a mere formality and a show, rather than serious, responsible dealing with the dangerous situation in the country, and the need to search for real and quick solutions.
4. The final statement lacked matters of utmost importance for Syria’s present and future, including democracy as a legitimate demand of the Syrian people and a tool for defending their interests and freedom, as well as the separation of powers as a tool of governance. Not to mention that utmost priority related to Syrians’ living conditions did not take the space it deserves and needs, neither in terms of discussion nor in terms of results.

Conclusions

Some people imagine that holding a dialogue conference in this brief and hasty manner can achieve some kind of “legitimacy”, especially external legitimacy. However, the truth is that legitimacy is internal before anything else, and comes from inclusiveness, participation, broad representation, and real consensus on the country’s major issues. Then, through real work, not formal, showy work, to solve problems, establish civil peace, and re-create a single Syrian market to ensure relaunching the national economy. As for seeking external “legitimacy”, especially Western, in the hope of lifting sanctions, it is like chasing a mirage. Any delay in resolving internal national options while waiting for external sympathy is likely to increase tensions, threats, and risks in their various forms.

The meeting that took place is a first step that requires serious work so that it does not turn into a lost opportunity. This requires its real and rapid completion by moving towards seeking legitimacy internally, and through a clear, participatory, broadly representative work program, through which Syrians, all Syrians, feel that they are truly represented.

(النسخة العربية)