Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has hailed a national dialogue conference as an “historic” opportunity for the country to rebuild after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad. The conference brought together 600 delegates to discuss transitional justice, the economy, and other key topics.
However, the process has been criticized for being rushed, and several groups, including the Kurdish-led militia alliance and autonomous administration controlling north-eastern Syria, were not invited. Sharaa stressed the need for armed groups to integrate into the military and for the state to have a monopoly on weapons.
The conference’s outcomes will be closely watched by the international community, which has called for an inclusive political process representing the country’s many ethnic and religious communities. The US, UK, and European Union have imposed sanctions on Syria targeting Assad’s government and its allies in response to atrocities committed during the civil war.
Sharaa promised to form a transitional justice body to restore people’s rights and hold accountable those who committed crimes against Syrians during the civil war. He also reiterated that non-state armed groups must disarm and hand over their territory, emphasizing the importance of unity and state control on arms.
The conference’s recommendations will guide a new transitional government set to take power on Saturday, and its outcomes will be crucial in shaping Syria’s future economic model and constitutional declaration.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpv4m4npnedo