SYRIA: Meeting of intellectuals and opinion-formers takes place in Damascus to discuss ways of resolving crisis in the country

Record ID: 279749

  • Title: SYRIA: Meeting of intellectuals and opinion-formers takes place in Damascus to discuss ways of resolving crisis in the country
  • Date: 4th July 2011
  • Summary: DAMASCUS, SYRIA (JULY 3, 2011) (REUTERS) PARTICIPANTS IN THE HOTEL ATTENDEES HEADING TO THE MEETING HALL SYRIAN PARLIAMENTARIAN MOHAMAD HABASH TALKING TO A MAN A CAMERAMAN (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MOHAMAD HABASH, SYRIAN PARLIAMENTARIAN, SAYING: "We came to this hotel and we have a clear goal which is reinforcing the will for dialogue and supporting the political reforms t
  • Embargoed: 19th July 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Syrian Arab Republic
  • Country: Syria
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAEU965049K8ZPSBWYYYXZ01YOW
  • Story Text: The Conference of the National Initiative for the Future of Syria is made up of prominent Syrians and intellectuals who see themselves as representatives of the country's 'silent majority'. They met in the capital Damascus on Sunday (July 3) in a hotel with no water or electricity, an unwitting symbol of Syria's potentially dark future as they seek a response to government reforms amidst a bloody crackdown against anti-governemnt protesters.
    Divisions have come to the fore this week when the leadership granted a rare public platform to the opposition in Damascus. It let them articulate demands, express support but also exposed a rift between those taking part and other activists - many of whom are in exile - who call it pointless while security forces are crushing protesters.
    Some of Syria's opposition insists that without dialogue with the authorities to agree on reforms and a period of transition away from autocracy the country's future is gloomy.
    Syrian parliamentarian, Mohamad Habash, urged the conference to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad reforms and to engage in dialogue.
    "We came to this hotel and we have a clear goal which is reinforcing the will for dialogue and supporting the political reforms taken by President Bashar al-Assad. We came to support those reforms and to say to the whole world that there is a chance for dialogue in Syria. There is a chance for a third way between the government and the national front and the opposition," Habash stated before the meeting.
    Hundreds of intellectuals and opinion-formers took part in the conference where some called on participants to protect national unity and prevent all sectarianism.
    In his opening speech, Habash put his weight behind the president as the best route to reform.
    "The best way for the transition to the civil democratic state is for the President of the Republic Bashar al-Assad to lead the transition during his presidency period and to continue this transition. And for us to be helping him in this democratic transition", he said.
    But other opposition figures believe Assad has already squandered opportunities for reform, saying it is too late for the national dialogue he has promised and he must leave now.
    Among the figures who were present was Zuhair Ghannoum, a former parliamentarian and prominent Syrian, Hussein Ammash, the former general director of the unemployment combating body.
    Western governments have condemned Assad's violence against protesters, but their practical response has so far been limited to sanctions against top officials, a far cry from the military intervention against Muammar Gaddafi in Libya Figures present at the troubled hotel meeting, where management first refused them entry because they did not have a reservation, and then were left to discuss the future of the country without basic facilities, believe they can act as a bridge between the people and the state.
    Syrian opposition figures held a similar meeting, in the same hotel, on the June 27.
    Syrian authorities have called earlier for national dialogue.
    Assad's response to the anti-government protests has included steps toward reforms, including granting citizenship to some ethnic Kurds, lifting a draconian state of emergency, freeing hundreds of prisoners and calling for a national dialogue.
    Protests, triggered by anger and frustration at corruption, poverty and lack of freedoms, have been mainly peaceful, though rights groups say the death toll among protesters is over 1,300 and that 12,000 people have been detained.
    Assad's adviser Bouthaina Shaaban said on Tuesday this week that 500 soldiers and police had been killed. Activists say that at least some of the dead soldiers were killed by their own superiors for disobeying orders to stop protests.
    Syria has imposed restrictions on media, including expelling journalists, making it hard to verify accounts of violence.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register