Syrian Dialogue Workshop discussed the new Constitution

A new Constitution for a new Republic of Syria where all identities are recognised and have equal status is being discussed at the Syrian Dialogue Workshop.

The Syrian Dialogue Workshop, organized under the slogan ‘Let's rebuild and develop Syria’ continued with discussions on its second day.

Thursday’s first session was dedicated to the ‘Syrian constitution and main principles’. Sihanok Dibo, member of the Syrian Dialogue monitoring committee, made a presentation on the Syrian constitution.

Dibo said that the current Syrian constitution does not represent the entire Syrian people. He added that the new charter should be democratic and guarantee the security of all. Furthermore, it should eliminate all discrimination.

After the presentation, the participants were asked about the new Syrian constitution they are imagining and made the following suggestions:

- A new constitution should be made to protect the rights of all peoples and faith groups.

- The condition of being Muslim for the presidency should be abolished, only being a Syrian citizen should be sufficient for candidacy.

- Equality between women and men should be stated in the constitution, differences must be eliminated.

- Syrian citizens should not be known as Arabs but with their own identities.

- The name of the Arab Republic of Syria should be changed to the Republic of Syria.

- Syrian Constitution should be shaped and have the approval of the Syrian people. It should not be made according to the projects of foreign powers. The Syrian constitution should be ultimately drafted taking into account the demands of the Syrian people.

- The current Syrian constitution protects not only the Syrian people, but also the current Baath power.

-The mother tongues of all components in Syria should be accepted as official languages.