Syria's future cannot be determined by single party: Syrian politician
4 Min Read
The Secretary-General of the Syrian Democratic Front, Mahmoud Merhi, tells Al Mayadeen that consultations and discussions will be held to shape Syria’s future.
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The portraits of toppled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his later father Hafez al-Assad hang outside the Baath party offices in Damascus as a fighter stands guard, on December 12, 2024 (AFP)
The Secretary-General of the Syrian Democratic Front, Mahmoud Merhi, emphasized the need to develop a new vision for Syria’s future and to form a constituent assembly to outline the country’s framework.
In an interview for Al Mayadeen, he expressed aspiration for a Syrian state where all citizens are equal, noting that "the future of Syria cannot be determined by a single party, as Syria is diverse, and we respect this diversity."
"No one should be excluded [from the political process] because it is the Syrians who will determine their constitution," Merhi stressed, adding that consultations and discussions will be held to shape Syria’s future.
In this context, he called on political forces and the government to communicate and reach an understanding regarding the next step forward.
Merhi further pointed out that the "dire economic situation" in the country will improve "if we can restore Syria’s resources to its people and lift the blockade."
In a related context, the Secretary-General of the Syrian Democratic Front said, "We no longer have an army capable of confronting the occupation’s aggression."
He acknowledged that the Syrian Army’s capabilities have been destroyed, adding that the army has been dismantled and is now almost dissolved.
"What remains are armed groups running the country," he asserted.
Merhi also called on the United Nations to intervene and implement the Disengagement Agreement, which "Israel" violated by invading the buffer zone on the border of the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan Heights.
He stressed that all factions in Syria condemn the Israeli aggression on its territory and refuse its occupation.
Elsewhere, Merhi also mentioned that the government of Mohammed al-Bashir is temporary until the situation stabilizes and the overall picture becomes clearer.
Al-Jolani's promises must be fulfilled: Syrian domestic forces
Earlier, a group of political forces, societal organizations, and national figures within Syria issued a statement outlining their position on the recent developments in the Syrian arena and their vision for the country's political transition.
The domestic forces condemned in their statement "the wide-scale Israeli aggression on Syrian territory, the occupation of various regions, and the destruction of the Syrian army's capabilities," considering it an imminent threat while also denouncing "the international community's silence regarding this aggression."
The group called for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2254 to organize the political process in a manner that aligns "with the new reality that necessitates the inclusion of all national Syrian forces from political parties, civil society groups, and influential and active figures."
They also urged "Arab countries concerned with Syria’s unity, both its land and people, to confront the Israeli aggression on southern Syria by all means, including the possibility of sending Arab forces to prevent this occupation."
The forces emphasized that the rhetoric of Ahmad al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, which affirms "the unity of Syrian territory, the preservation of state institutions, the non-sectarian nature of the Syrian state, the prohibition of sectarian incitement, the sanctity of Syrian blood, the cessation of hostilities across all Syrian land, and the preservation of security, civil peace, and the protection of freedoms" requires practical implementation through clear and publicly declared steps to alleviate the concerns and fears of the people, due to certain violations and practices in various areas that contradict the declared speech.
The statement was signed by 43 entities, both individuals and organizations, representing diverse segments of the Syrian public.
Read more: New Syrian constitution to be drafted within 6 months: Turkish media
