Damascus (TDI): Syria’s new authorities will hold a national dialogue conference starting on Tuesday to discuss a new path for the country after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December.
Foreign capitals will be closely watching the conference as part of a political process in Syria that they should be inclusive of its ethnically diverse and multi-religious population as they consider suspending sanctions on the country.
Holding the conference has been a key pledge of Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) which took control of Damascus on December 8 in a stunning offensive that prompted then-president Assad to flee to Russia, ending over 50 years of his family’s autocratic rule.
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The preparatory committee’s seven members consulted with about 4,000 people across Syria over the last week to gather views that would help shape a constitutional declaration, a new economic framework and a plan for institutional reform, the committee told journalists on Sunday.
President Ahmed Sharaa has said the conference was part of an inclusive political process to draft a constitution, which he stated could take up to 3 years, and then hold elections, which he said could take 4 years.
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The conference is set to run for two days but could be extended, if necessary, committee member Hassan Dugheim said, and a new government likely to be formed in March would also benefit from the conference’s recommendations.
