Participants of Sochi conference adopt 12-point plan on Syria’s future

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – Participants at the much-talked-about peace conference in Russia stressed the need to preserve the territorial integrity of Syria on Tuesday, stating that the Syrian people alone should decide the fate of the country, according to the conference’s final statement.

Moscow, a strong ally of Damascus, hosted the conference named the “Syrian National Dialogue Congress” at the Black Sea resort of Sochi, hoping the talks would help with the drafting of a new constitution in Syria.

The statement mentioned that the participants had agreed on “basic principles” that are “essential” for the embattled Syrian nation to lift itself out of its protracted and deadly civil war. The agreement included a “democratic path” for the country’s political transition through national elections.

The statement made no mention of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Both the Kurdish representation controlling the north of the country and the Syrian opposition refused to attend the conference.

Participants also expressed their “respect and full commitment” to the “sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and unity of Syria” as their first point as the conference concluded.

The second point highlighted the “respect of and full commitment to Syria’s national sovereign equality and rights regarding non-intervention.”

The statement affirmed that only the people of Syria can decide on the future of their country.

“The Syrian people alone shall determine the future of their country by democratic means, through the ballot box, and shall have the exclusive right to choose their own political, economic and social system without external pressure or interference, in line with Syria’s international rights and obligations,” the third point of the statement read as quoted by Russian TASS news agency.

The Congress’ participants noted Syria should be “a democratic and non-sectarian state based on political pluralism and equal citizenship irrespective of religion, ethnicity, and gender.”

The fourth point called for the “full respect for and protection of the rule of law, the separation of powers, judicial independence, the full equality of all citizens, the cultural diversity of the Syrian society, and public freedoms, including freedom of belief, featuring transparent, inclusive, accountable and answerable governance, including before the national law, with necessary effective measures to combat crime, corruption and mismanagement.”

The statement continued that Syria should have a “strong, unified, meritocratic and national army that carries out its duties in accordance with the constitution and the highest standards.”

Human rights are also enshrined in the Congress’ final statement, underlining the “respect and protection of human rights and public freedoms, especially in times of crisis, including non-discrimination and equal rights and opportunities for all without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, cultural or linguistic identity, gender or any other distinction.”

It also called for an “effective mechanism for their protection, which gives due regard to the political and equal rights and opportunities of women, including by the taking of active measures to ensure representation and participation in institutions and decision-making structures, with mechanisms aimed to achieve a level of representation of at least 30% for women, and the goal of parity.”

The document asserted the need to establish a constitutional committee made of government and opposition members, representatives in the intra-Syrian talks, Syrian experts, civil society groups, tribal leaders, and women.

Kurds in Syria boycotted the conference, especially as an ongoing Turkish military operation on Afrin region in northwestern Syria has gone unanswered by Damascus. The Syrian army also withdrew its military base in the area.

Editing by Nadia Riva