{"id":10504,"date":"2011-06-27T13:09:24","date_gmt":"2011-06-27T17:09:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/?p=10504"},"modified":"2011-06-28T14:50:44","modified_gmt":"2011-06-28T18:50:44","slug":"syrian-opposition-conference-semiramis-hotel-200-members-first-impressions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/syrian-opposition-conference-semiramis-hotel-200-members-first-impressions\/","title":{"rendered":"Syrian Opposition Conference: Semiramis Hotel: 200 members – First Impressions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Syrian opposition conference held in Semiramis hotel in Damascus with 200 opposition members. This marks the first time the opposition has meet openly in Syria. Opposition members have come out from hiding and into the open to voice their desire for democracy and reform.<\/p>\n

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\n\u201cEvery step that helps bring together an opposition is a positive step<\/a>,\u201d said Burhan Ghalioun. \u201cWe need a unified opposition that can be engaged in a political battle with the regime to force it to transfer the country into a democratic civil state. (NYTimes<\/a>)<\/p>\n

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Addendum” BBC’s Roundup<\/p>\n

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\nSyrian opposition meet in Damascus; critics suspect gathering is government-sanctioned ruse<\/a>
\nZEINA KARAM for AP<\/p>\n

BEIRUT (AP) – Critics of Syria’s authoritarian regime, at a rare gathering in Damascus, called Monday for a peaceful transition to democracy and an end to the Assad family’s 40-year-old monopoly on power. Otherwise, they said, Syria’s current chaos might destroy the country….. In a final communique, participants declared their support for the \u201cpopular uprising seeking a peaceful transition to a democratic, civil and pluralistic state\u201d and called for an immediate end to the security crackdown and the army\u2019s withdrawal from towns and villages. They also called for an independent committee to investigate the killings of Syrian citizens and soldiers, the release of all political prisoners, and the right to peaceful protests without the government\u2019s prior approval…..<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

WSJ [Reg]: Damascus Gathering Shows Syrian Opposition Split<\/a>, 2011-06-27<\/p>\n

BEIRUT\u2014Syrian opposition members met Monday in Damascus, in the first such gathering sanctioned by the government, but activists abroad rejected the move, signaling that President Bashar al-Assad’s offer of a national dialogue could widen. The meeting, which discussed a political transition to democracy from the four-decade rule of the Assad family, was the first of its kind to gather opposition activists in a public venue, attendees said. It appeared to show the scope for political conversation that more than three months of street protests have forced on Mr. Assad’s regime…..<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Tweets and video about the conference follow<\/strong><\/p>\n

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US_Syrians meet with Assad<\/p><\/div>\n

A delegation of US Syrians met with President Assad yesterday. This is the article by Syria-News<\/a> in Arabic.<\/p>\n

Syrian Opposition Conference started with national anthem and a minute of silence for the martyrs #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Luay Hussein: This is the first time we meet in front of our people so we have huge responsibilities #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Luay Hussein: those meeting here are not advocates of violence #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Media was allowed in the first session and Syrian local Radio Cham is broadcasting live from the conference #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Munther Khaddam: who would have thought we can have this conference ever here #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Munther Khaddam: they used to count our breathes. Thanks to the martyrs we are having this conference today #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Munther Khaddam: a peaceful transition to democracy is the way forward. Anything else could be disastrous #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Michel Kilo: Some people want to fix the symptoms and this can cause new problems. Solving the core issue is the solution #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Michel Kilo: the following are my recommendation for a solution.. #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Michel Kilo: 1-immediate recognition of political parties which are not religious or ethnic in nature .. #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Michel Kilo: 2- clause 8 of the constitution should be “frozen” immediately as a trust building measure #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Michel Kilo: 3- the opposition should be given immediate license to publish a paper as a trust building measure #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Michel Kilo: 4- reforming the legal system is a priority #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Michel Kilo: these should be immediate trust building measures #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Michel Kilo: Additionally security “solution” should be stopped and army should go back to bases #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Michel Kilo: 80 percent of the Syrian population are under 35. Where are they in this conference? #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Michel Kilo: There is no security solution to the problem of unemployment #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Michel Kilo: The security solution is a failed one and cause more cracks in society #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Michel Kilo: it is not feasible to start national dialogue with “security solution” taking place #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Michel Kilo: releasing all political prisoners is a prerequisite for national dialogue #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Michel Kilo: the past few months felt like Afghanistan not Syria! #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Michel Kilo: these are not conditions for national dialogues but success factors #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Michel Kilo: the ideology that was embedded in the regime for 50 years lacks mechanisms for finding solutions #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Michel Kilo: recreating the modern society starts from granting Syrians their freedoms #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Munther Khaddam: we reiterate our rights to free our occupied lands and Palestinian lands #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15 #Israel #palestine<\/p>\n

Munther Khaddam: there is no middle ground between authoritarianism and democracy #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15 #Israel #palestine<\/p>\n

Munther Khaddam: trust in the current system is very low. A transition into a new system is needed #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Kilo is suggesting this as an “immediate” trust building measure until it is canceled constitutionally<\/p>\n

Pro demonstrations outside Samiramis: it’s probably spontaneous. We say the same “spontaneous” pro demos outside the opposition conferences in Turkey and Belgium #syria<\/p>\n

Shawqi Baghdadi: we don’t claim to represent the street #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Shawqi Baghdadi: Michel Kilo made suggestion for immediate trust building measures. if authorities agrees then a solution is possible #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Ibrahim Zur (Kurdish opposition): other Syrians should not look suspiciously at Kurds #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Hasan Al-Ali: those with blood on their hands should be brought to justice publicly #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Hasan Al-Ali: Kurds who suffered in the past should be compensated #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Sabah Hallaq: women should have an integral role in the process of building the new Syria #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Mohammad Al-ammar: random detentions which happened in Banyas was to intimidate the people #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Anis Kanj: a new constitution under which everyone is equal is the translation of social justice #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Joseph Ibrahim: The conference should also tackle economic issues #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Jaudat Saeed: now that Egypt is on its way to democracy, the Arab world should follow #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15 #Egypt #jan25<\/p>\n

Jaudat Saeed: arms will solve nothing. Voting booths will #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Burhan Naseef: the violence and external meddling in Syria are the authorities fault #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Suleiman Yousef: it unacceptable that our constitution has a sectarian clause and claims that the religion of the state is Islam #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Suleiman Yousef: there can be no civil state based on sectarian constitution #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Suleiman Yousef: Christians should be allowed to run for presidency in Syria #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Mousa Hanna: civil movements should continue while we move in the transitional phase #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Mousa Hanna: we reject any external intervention or meddling #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Jalal Naufal: There is a big portion of the society who do not agree with the uprising #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Anwar Mohamad: Authorities should punish all those who allowed weapons to enter the country #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Anwar Mohamad: Syrian opposition should be given space on Syrian state TV and media #OppositionConference #Damascus #Syria #march15<\/p>\n

Interviews with opposition members in the conference:<\/strong>
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