SYRIA: A meeting of Syria's main coalition of political parties holds a Damascus meeting to call for a 'national dialogue' on the crisis

Record ID: 281460

  • Title: SYRIA: A meeting of Syria's main coalition of political parties holds a Damascus meeting to call for a 'national dialogue' on the crisis
  • Date: 9th October 2012
  • Summary: DAMASCUS, SYRIA (OCTOBER 8, 2012) (REUTERS) WIDE OF THE MEETING VARIOUS OF THE PARTICIPANTS MORE OF THE PARTICIPANTS HEAD OF THE ARAB SOCIALISTS PARTY, SAFWAN QUDSI, TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF THE ARAB SOCIALISTS PARTY, SAFWAN QUDSI, SAYING: "When we describe what is happening as a conspiracy, we do not deny the fact that this conspiracy would not have fou
  • Embargoed: 24th October 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Syrian Arab Republic
  • Country: Syria
  • Topics: Conflict,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4QR26CWVDT09YM0SIOWR5QR9C
  • Story Text: The Syrian National Progressive Front, the country's ruling coalition of political parties, called for a national dialogue to end the Syrian crisis at a special meeting on Monday (October 8).
    There was a noticeably low turnout at the mmeting from members of President Bashar al-Assad's Baath party, the coalition's dominant party which has ruled Syria for over forty years.
    Head of the Arab Socialists Party, Safwan Qudsi, said at the heart of the conflict was economic policies which need to be addressed.
    "When we describe what is happening as a conspiracy, we do not deny the fact that this conspiracy would not have found a place in the society if there was not an environment to play host to it. This environment was fostered by economic policies that did not pay attention to realities in Syria, that should have shaped different kinds of policies based on social justice," Head of the Arab Socialists Party, Safwan Qudsi, said.
    The meeting was attended by diplomats from Iran, Russia and China.
    A Chinese diplomat said the gathering was a sign of growing demands in Damascus for a peaceful solution to the crisis, as the protests for reform which started in March last year have evolved into a civil war with sectarian overtones which is threatening to draw in regional powers
    "The Syrian crisis is very complicated but such meetings are testament to the increase in the number of voices that are asking for a peaceful solution for this Syrian crisis as well as leaving the violence and clashes. This is a good sign and we encourage it through our presence," said political adviser of the Chinese Embassy in Syria, Feng Biao, adding the number of voices calling for a peaceful solution in Damascus wason the rise.
    China has urged restraint on the Turkey-Syrian border where the most serious cross-border violence entered a fifth day on Monday.
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