Syrian Coalition Considers Forming Parliamentary Committees to Oversee Decisions

For the third day, the Syrian Coalition is continuing holding mini-workshops to discuss the legal amendments to its bylaws. Yasser Farhat, member of the General Assembly, said that the tasks of the newly formed committees would be organized to activate the role of the Syrian Coalition and its institutions to serve the interests of the Syrian people and alleviate their suffering. These committees are more like a parliament that oversees drafting of laws and proposes plans and mechanisms for the General Assembly to approve.” Today’s meeting discussed amendments to articles 27 and 28 of the constitution of the Syrian Coalition aimed at regulating the relations between the various offices and bodies of the Syrian Coalition on the one hand, and the relationship between the Syrian Coalition and the interim government on the other. Farhat also said that “during today’s discussions suggestions were made to amend the work of some of the committees and to create new ones as a prelude to the institutionalization of the Syrian Coalition.” Moreover, the meeting discussed forming 11 specialized committees that will be tasked with regulating the relationship of the Syrian Coalition with the interim government. “These committees will oversee the performance and decisions of the interim government,” Farhat said. The meeting also discussed forming seven committees that will be tasked with regulating the work of the various offices of the Syrian Coalition. These committees will have a mandate of one year, subject to renewal, and will be subordinate to the political committee. Each committee will consist of at least three members selected according to their qualifications and competencies. The conferees concluded that each of the committees’ heads should devote themselves exclusively to performing the tasks of their committee and that the merging of two committees can only be decided upon by the General Assembly. (Source: Syrian Coalition)