MSDThe Presidential Body of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) held on Sunday, Jan.28, 2024, its inaugural meeting. During the meeting, it assigned bureau heads to complete the formation of the bureaus and review the Council’s documents, including the Roadmap for the Solution of the Syrian Crisis, the Political Document of the Council, and its Internal System and New Structure, in order to organize work accordingly.
The organizational meeting was as a reflection of the outcomes of the Fourth Conference of the SDC, aiming to modify the organizational structure to enhance flexibility in work. This modification is intended to improve the performance of Council’s members in the upcoming phase, considering the new developments that have occurred.
The meeting was attended by the Co-Chairs of the SDC represented by Layla Qaraman and Dr. Mahmoud al-Mislet as well as the 15-member Presidential Body, including Riyad Drar, who joined the meeting via the ZOOM app. The Body is responsible for developing plans and programs and it is authorized to lead dialogues with political powers and parties.
Participants in the meeting discussed the political situation at the international, regional, and local levels. That included global political and field changes between conflicting poles seeking dominance, such as the Russian-Ukrainian war and the conflicts over Taiwan and trade routes. The discussions also addressed their impact on the Middle East, exemplified by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas and its repercussions on the situation in Syria.
The participants emphasized that the international conflict and its impacts on the Syrian arena worsened the crisis and affected the Syrians negatively. It hindered the political solution of the crisis and increased challenges for democratic powers seeking a solution. The meeting highlighted the consequences of external interventions by regional and international powers, leading to divisions among Syrians. That was exacerbated by ongoing Turkish attacks on the country and Turkey’s attempts to occupy more Syrian territories, committing various violations and crimes against Syrians in the occupied areas, and crimes against humanity in areas held by the Democratic Autonomous Administration of the region of North and East Syria due to Turkish bombing and shelling of vital facilities, power sources and infrastructure on one hand and the Syrian government’s stubbornness in rejecting dialogue and adhering to military solutions on the other hand.
The participants further emphasized that a political solution for the Syrian crisis is not possible without the participation of all Syrian components and the implementation of UN Resolution 2254. They stressed that the intra-Syrian dialogue is the most successful path to reunite the Syrians and achieve equality, freedom, democracy, and justice in line with the aspirations of the Syrian people in which they have called for since the beginning of their popular movement.
Documents of the SDC were read, noting the Council’s commencement of work based on them.
In conclusion, participants underscored the need to adhere to the Council’s action strategy, as outlined in its general meeting on Jan. 21, 2024. This strategy involves continuing the intra-Syrian dialogue, increasing communication and coordination with relevant actors in the Syrian issue, including the United Nations, various political and social foreign and Arab blocs, and working towards ending all occupations of Syrian territories. The participants reiterated the commitment to preparing for a conference of democratic powers and figures to reach unified positions of Syrians and end the suffering in the country within the framework of the national interest.
