Asharq Al-Awsat, 1 Nov 2012 – Al-Shishkali to Asharq Al-Awsat: The importance of this conference lies in the gathering of various Syrian opposition parties on the transition plan.
Participants in the Syrian opposition conference in Istanbul recommended the “managing of the transition period after Assad’s fall”. This conference was held at the invitation of the “Syrian Center for Political and Strategic Studies” aimed at establishing a “government-in exile”, stressing on the need to support the Free Syrian Army and requesting the implementation of a no-fly zone over Syria.
This conference continued for three days to discuss methods of establishing Syrian government institutions, especially security, military and legal entities to prevent any void resulting from the overthrow of the Bashar Assad regime. It is worth noting prior to this and before the beginning of the Syrian revolution, similar conferences were also held in the Turkish capital.
On the recommendations made in the conference statement, Mr. Adim Al-Shishkali, member of the Syrian National Council says, “The importance of this conference is that this conference for the first time has gathered various groups from different sections of the Syrian opposition, including popular, political, military, legal, and economic sectors, and activists on the ground. During the conference, we were informed of opinions and viewpoints regarding the path the revolution should take and the future steps that must be implemented. This issue was positively reflected in the recommendations, in addition to having consensus on the transition period plan and its implementation, and the establishment of the transition government.”
He also shed light on the accomplishments of this three day conference, amongst them regarding the numerous categorized working groups, with the most important being on political, security, economic and legal issues. Work on these committees will continue in the future and be implemented in the near future, Al-Shishkali added.
The statement issued last Wednesday states, “With the participation of over 200 political and opposition leaders, and activists affiliated to various political movements such as the: Syrian National Council, Kurdish National Council, Ashuri Democratic Organization, Syrian Turkiman Democratic Movement, Al-Mostaghbel Kurdish Movement in Syria, Syrian Free Judicial Council, Syrian Laic Democratic Coalition, Damascus Statement, Muslim Brotherhood, Syrian Revolution Public Council, Local Coordination Committees, Damascus Scholars Council, Kurdish Democratic Forces Union, Syrian Association for Reform, National Change Movement, Arabic Tribal Council and other political forces, revolutionary and military councils in the provinces of Aleppo, Homs, Idlib, Dir Al-Zur and Rif Damascus. This is in addition to a number of defected ministers, ambassadors, diplomats and Syrian MPs, along with a number of independent members of the Syrian opposition. The conference on managing the transition period in Syria was held under the title of “Facing Challenges and Establishing Common Viewpoints for the Future.”
The participants discussed the Assad regime’s continuous war crimes and crimes against humanity against the Syrian people; methods to overthrow the regime; the role of civil society in providing the necessary support to free Syria through supporting the Free Syrian Army and national armed resistance; and imposing a no-fly zone in order to provide secure areas to protect civilians.
Participants stressed on the following issues, “The true political and popular entity that has the competence to establish this government is a common and complete national conference consisting of all political, national, revolutionary and military forces that devote themselves to serving the Syrian revolution and achieving its goals in overthrowing the Assad regime and establishing a civil and democratic government under which all Syrians enjoy equal rights and duties. This entity must place its efforts to gain official internal and international recognition for a government enjoying the consensus of the Syrian people and leaders of the opposition forces that abide by the goals of the revolution, and take action for the preparations of this national conference. This conference, if possible, should be held on Syrian soil with its legitimacy being based on the right of the Syrian people to choose their government and its president.”