Kassioun Editorial 1218: A New Alarm Bell!

The statement focused on three key points within the Declaration that, in our opinion, “do not rise to the demands and gravity of the situation the country is experiencing”. Briefly, these points are:

First: Setting the transitional period at five years, leaving the country throughout this period without a permanent constitution that is the result of a truly representative general national conference, bolsters the threats facing the country’s national unity, increases the risks of various forms of foreign interference, and obstructs and complicates the lifting of sanctions.

Second: The entire Constitutional Declaration, in both form and substance, lacks the most valuable and fundamental idea of ​​rule by the people, for the people, and by the people.

Third: While centralizing power is important in a critical phase such as the one we are currently experiencing, centralization becomes fragile and weak in practical terms when it is not based on general consensus among Syrians, and when it is based on the monopolization and possession by the executive authority – implicitly the presidency – of powers that extend to fully controlling the three branches of government, in a manner that repeats the previous constitution, which enshrined dominance over the various branches of government.

These points cover only the most basic issues, and do not address many of the problematic details, including the haste and lack of experience that led its authors to make the embarrassing mistake that made the width of the rectangle (in the article describing the flag) larger than its length.

The developments that occurred in parallel with the issuance of the Constitutional Declaration, and particularly those that followed, raise serious alarm bells about the possibility of the return of foreign interventions in a more severe and widespread manner. In this context, we should carefully read the statement issued by the UN Security Council, which was jointly drafted and introduced by the Russians and the Americans, and also carefully read Pedersen’s words after the closed session of the Security Council, in which he said: “Now is the time for bold moves to create a genuinely credible and inclusive transitional government and legislative body; a constitutional framework and process to draft a new constitution for the long term that is credible and inclusive too; and genuine transitional justice. The United Nations stands ready to work on these and all other aspects of a political transition in cooperation with the caretaker authorities and all Syrians and in line with the key principles of Security Council resolution 2254 (2015)”.

Preventing adverse foreign interventions is still possible, but within a short timeframe. This requires accelerating practical steps towards:

First: Considering the Constitutional Declaration that was launched a test that was not destined to succeed. Therefore, it should be withdrawn, and its formulation should be reconsidered based on genuine, broad consultations in which all Syrians, from all political and social groups, participate.

Second: Moving towards a General National Congress that embraces a genuine, and not merely formal, Syrian-Syrian dialogue, establishing a permanent constitution and a smooth and safe transition to safety, by enforcing the Syrian people’s right to self-determination.

Third: Forming a comprehensive and broadly representative national unity government in which every Syrian feels represented.

Internally unifying Syria is the primary gateway to halting foreign interference. This requires rallying the Syrian people around a shared dream and a shared vision. This cannot be achieved with a stick; for when a stick is wielded internally, it weakens both whoever is waving it and whoever is targeted by it, which opens the door to foreign interference. Internal unification can only be achieved through genuine – not superficial – Syrian-Syrian dialogue, by rejecting sectarianism, and by holding accountable criminals and major corruption figures. This will achieve true reassurance for all Syrians, so they feel they are active contributors to building and defending their country, and that they are all first-class citizens, with no discrimination among them.

A new alarm bell is being sounded, and we must listen carefully and act within the internal national framework to address it. This is a major responsibility in the national and historical sense, for which we will all be held accountable, whether as individuals, as political forces, or as the existing authority.