Syrian National Dialogue Conference
{{Short description|none}}
{{Other uses|National Dialogue Conference{{!}}National Dialogue Conference}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox summit meeting
|name=Syrian National Dialogue Conference
|date=24–25 February 2025
|country={{flag|Syria|revolution}}
| venues = Presidential Palace
| cities = Damascus, Syria
|chairperson=Ahmed al-Sharaa
|participants=
|image=Al-Sharaa National Dialogue Conference (2025).png
|caption=President Ahmed al-Sharaa Addresses the National Dialogue Conference}}
{{Syrian peace process}}
{{Ahmed al-Sharaa series}}
The Syrian National Dialogue Conference ({{langx|ar|مؤتمر الحوار الوطني السوري}}), was a transitional dialogue held at the Presidential Palace in Damascus, Syria, on 24–25 February 2025, as part of the Syrian caretaker government. It aimed to establish a path to national unity following the fall of the Assad regime, focusing on transitional justice, constitutional and institutional reform, freedoms, civil society, and economic principles.{{Cite web |date=25 February 2025 |title=Key Syrian political groups boycott National Dialogue Conference, criticise lack of inclusivity |url=https://medyanews.net/key-syrian-political-groups-boycott-national-dialogue-conference-criticise-lack-of-inclusivity/ |access-date=27 February 2025 |website=Medya News |language=en-GB}} Before the conference, Israel launched airstrikes on Damascus and southern Syria. In response, the conference demanded Israel's immediate and unconditional withdrawal from Syria and rejected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's opposition to Syrian military presence in the south.
Ahmed al-Sharaa was appointed president on 29 January 2025, after serving as the de facto leader following the fall of the Assad regime. Upon his appointment, he announced plans to hold a "national dialogue conference" and issue a "constitutional declaration" to serve as a legal framework for the political transition following the repeal of the Ba'athist era constitution.
Background
On 8 December 2024, the Assad regime collapsed during a major offensive by opposition forces. The capture of Damascus marked the end of the Assad family's rule, which had governed Syria as a hereditary sectarian totalitarian regime since Hafez al-Assad assumed power in 1971 following a coup d'état.{{Cite web |last1=Gebeily |first1=Maya |last2=Azhari |first2=Timour |date=8 December 2024 |title=Assad gets asylum in Russia, rebels sweep through Syria |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/syria-rebels-celebrate-captured-homs-set-sights-damascus-2024-12-07/ |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241218174033/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/syria-rebels-celebrate-captured-homs-set-sights-damascus-2024-12-07/ |archive-date=18 December 2024 |website=Reuters}} As a rebel coalition moved closer to Damascus, reports indicated that Bashar al-Assad had fled the capital by plane to Russia, where he joined his exiled family and was granted political asylum by the Russian government.{{Cite news |date=8 December 2024 |title=Syria Live Updates: Assad Has Resigned and Left Syria, Russia Says |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/12/08/world/syria-war-damascus |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241209000141/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/12/08/world/syria-war-damascus |archive-date=9 December 2024 |access-date=8 December 2024 |work=The New York Times}} After his departure, opposition forces announced their victory on state television. At the same time, Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed his resignation and departure from Syria.{{Cite web |date=9 December 2024 |title=Bashar al-Assad Granted Asylum in Russia Amid Syria's Political Upheaval |url=https://thegulfobserver.com/bashar-al-assad-granted-asylum-in-russia-amid-syrias-political-upheaval/ |access-date=11 December 2024 |website=The Gulf Observer |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last1=Fahim |first1=Kareem |last2=Morris |first2=Loveday |last3=Loveluck |first3=Louisa |last4=Miller |first4=Greg |last5=El Chamaa |first5=Mohamad |last6=Eski |first6=Beril |date=22 December 2024 |title=How Syria's rebels overcame years of a bloody stalemate to topple Assad |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/12/21/syria-rebels-assad-iran-turkey/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241222072014/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/12/21/syria-rebels-assad-iran-turkey/ |archive-date=22 December 2024 |access-date=22 December 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en}}
Ahmed al-Sharaa was appointed president by the Syrian General Command after serving as the de facto leader following the fall of the Assad regime on 29 January 2025.{{Cite web |date=29 January 2025 |accessdate=9 February 2025 |title=General Command appoints Ahmed al-Sharaa as President of Syria |url=https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2025/01/general-command-appoints-ahmed-al-sharaa-as-president-of-syria/ |website=Enab Baladi}} After his appointment as president, al-Sharaa, in his first address on 31 January 2025, stated that he would hold a 'national dialogue conference' and issue a 'constitutional declaration' to serve as a 'legal reference' during the political transition following the dissolution of the Ba'athist era constitution.{{Cite web |date=31 January 2025 |title=Syria's interim president vows to preserve 'civil peace' in first address |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250130-syria-qatar-discuss-reconstruction-during-emir-s-visit |access-date=31 January 2025 |website=France 24 |language=en}}
On 23 February 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded the complete demilitarization of southern Syria in the provinces of Quneitra, Daraa and Suweyda, and the withdrawal of Syrian forces from Syrian territory south of Damascus.{{cite news |title=Israel demands complete demilitarisation of southern Syria |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgenz02lp8o |work=BBC |date=24 February 2025}} Hours later, Israel conducted a wave of airstrikes in Damascus and southern Syria.{{cite news |title=Israel bombs ‘military targets’ in southern Syria, outside Damascus |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/26/israel-bombs-military-targets-in-southern-syria-outside-damascus |work=Al Jazeera |date=26 February 2025}}
Members
The seven members of the "preparatory committee" are: Hassan al-Daghim, Maher Alloush, Mohammed Mastet, Youssef al-Hijr, Mustafa al-Moussa, Hind Kabawat and Houda Atassi.{{cite news |title=Syria's transitional government forms national dialogue committee |url=https://www.newarab.com/news/syrias-temp-government-forms-national-dialogue-committee|work=The New Arab |date=12 February 2025}}
Outcomes
During the Syrian National Dialogue Conference, delegates were organized into working groups to discuss key issues, including the constitution, freedoms, the economy, and civil society. Around 600 delegates from across Syria were invited to the event at the Presidential Palace in Damascus. The representatives of the Syrian Democratic Forces were not invited to the conference, but the organizers stated that the Kurdish community was still present.{{Cite web |date=25 February 2025 |title=Syria's national dialogue conference held as the battered country seeks to rebuild |url=https://apnews.com/article/syria-national-dialogue-conference-ahmad-alsharaa-0a25799b189707a500c3e5fd1b8cb692 |access-date=27 February 2025 |website=AP News |language=en}} In his opening speech, Al-Sharaa emphasized unity and cooperation, urging support for Syria in overcoming its hardships. He expressed confidence that others would not abandon the country and announced plans to establish a transitional justice committee.{{Cite web |date=26 February 2025 |title=Syria holds national dialogue to chart a path after Bashar al-Assad |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/02/25/syria-national-dialogue-assad/ |access-date=26 February 2025 |publisher=The Washington Post}} He also stressed the need for armed groups to integrate into the military and for the state to maintain a monopoly on weapons.{{Cite web |date=25 February 2025 |title=Syria: Al-Sharaa vows state 'monopoly' on weapons in national dialogue speech |url=https://www.newarab.com/news/syria-al-sharaa-vows-state-monopoly-arms-national-speech |access-date=28 February 2025 |website=The New Arab}}{{Cite web |date=25 February 2025 |title=Syria dialogue conference a 'historic opportunity', Sharaa says |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpv4m4npnedo |access-date=1 March 2025 |website=BBC|language=en-GB}}
Houda Atassi, a member of the Preparatory Committee, stated that the draft constitution proposes a temporary constitutional declaration and a legislative council to shape the country's future, ensuring a balanced distribution of power, justice, freedoms, equality, and a strong legal and institutional foundation.
The conference called for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Israeli forces from Syria and rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s stance against the presence of Syrian military forces in the south. It also reaffirmed Syria’s unity and sovereignty, firmly opposing any attempts at division, fragmentation, or territorial concessions.{{Cite web |last=Salhani |first=Justin |title=Key takeaways from Syria’s National Dialogue conference |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/26/key-takeaways-from-syrias-national-dialogue-conference |access-date=27 February 2025 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}
On 24 February 2025, the European Union announced the lifting of several Assad-era sanctions against Syria to support economic recovery and reconstruction efforts,{{cite news |date=24 February 2025 |title=EU eases sanctions on Syria |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-suspends-economic-sanctions-on-syria/ |access-date=24 February 2025 |newspaper=Politico Europe}} a decision welcomed by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, who also criticized the remaining international sanctions during his speech at the national dialogue conference.
Reactions
The Kurdish National Council in Syria criticized the conference as a disgrace and a violation of the Kurdish people's fundamental right to national unity in Syria.{{Cite web |date=26 February 2025 |title=Syrian Kurds denounce exclusion from National Dialogue Conference |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-kurdish-syrian-kurds-denounce-exclusion-from-national-dialogue-conference/7988330.html |access-date=27 February 2025 |website=Voice of America |language=en}} Syrian activist Majd Izzat al-Chourbaji, who took part in the economy committee, praised the conference as well-organized but noted that limited time allowed participants to speak only once.{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Mateo |date=27 February 2025 |title=Women delegates weigh in on Syria’s national dialogue conference |url=https://syriadirect.org/women-delegates-weigh-in-on-syrias-national-dialogue-conference/ |access-date=28 February 2025 |website=Syria Direct |language=en-US}}
Bahrain welcomed the Syrian National Dialogue Conference, calling it a key step toward building a Syrian state based on citizenship, the rule of law, and strong constitutional institutions.{{Cite web |title=Bahrain News Agency |url=https://www.bna.bh/en/index.aspx |access-date=28 February 2025 |website=www.bna.bh}} Oman welcomed the Syrian National Dialogue Conference and reaffirmed its support for its goal of uniting all political factions.{{Cite web |last=Team |first=Observer Web |date=27 February 2025 |title=Oman welcomes convening of Syrian National Dialogue Conference |url=https://www.omanobserver.om/article/1166945/oman/community/oman-welcomes-convening-of-syrian-national-dialogue-conference |access-date=27 February 2025 |website=Oman Observer |language=en}} Saudi Arabia welcomed the Syrian National Dialogue Conference, hoping it would support the goals of the Syrian people and strengthen national unity.{{Cite web |date=25 February 2025 |title=Saudi Arabia welcomes convening of Syria’s national dialogue conference |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/saudi-arabia/2025/02/25/saudi-arabia-welcomes-convening-of-syria-s-national-dialogue-conference |access-date=27 February 2025 |website=Al Arabiya English |language=en}} The United Arab Emirates welcomed the Syrian National Dialogue Conference and reaffirmed its support for efforts to promote peace, development, and prosperity in Syria.{{Cite web |title=UAE Welcomes Convening of Syrian National Dialogue Conference |url=https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/mediahub/news/2025/2/26/26-2-2025-uae-syria |access-date=28 February 2025 |website=www.mofa.gov.ae}}
See also
{{Portal|Politics}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Syrian civil war}}
Category:2020s political conferences