Member of the Syrian National Coalition’s political committee and Coordinator of the Office of Strategic Consulting Ahmed Ramadan said that the Syrian revolution is establishing a future phase in Syria that is based on democracy, justice and equality. He added that the rule of the Assad regime contradicts all civilizational values ​​and prevents any form of development or progress.
Ramadan made these remarks during a special workshop organized by the Pioneers for Cooperation and Development in the Turkish city of Gaziantep on the occasion of the International Day of Democracy. The participants also included former minister in the Syrian Interim Government Mohammed Yassin Najjar and political researcher Saad Wifai’e.
In the workshop held under the title “Democracy: Is it a Necessity and a Demand?, Ramadan said that the main goal of the Syrian revolution is to get rid of the tyrannical regime and end tyranny both in terms of the thought and behavior as well as to build a democratic system of rule that respects diversity and fosters coexistence. This system shall draft a new constitution that paves the way for a phase in which the Syrian citizens can freely choose their representatives and where there is a peaceful transfer of power away from security crackdown and corruption.
Ramadan reviewed the course of the social movement and the role of civil society and political forces in confronting the Assad regime’s repressive tools prior to the outbreak of the Syrian revolution in 2011. He stressed that the biggest challenge was the ability of political parties to express themselves and their goals in a vision that provides a model for a democratic system of rule based on respect for public freedoms. The challenge was also the ability of these parties to ensure the adequate representation of the components of the Syrian people and emphasize the values ​​of freedom, justice and equal citizenship.
Moreover, Ramadan stressed that the Syrian revolution relatively succeeded in building institutions that uphold the value ​​of democracy despite the lack of suitable conditions for popular elections in a safe environment. He pointed to the importance of raising awareness about the values ​​of democracy and to be deeply rooted in our social values ​​so as to prevent the return of tyranny to our country.
For his part, Mohammed Yassin Najjar pointed out that the United Nations has given the issue of democracy special importance in its institutions. He said that the UN made the promotion of democratic values ​​at the core of its work and encouraged States and regimes to move towards democratic systems ensuring respect for human rights.
Najjar called for democracy to be considered the basis of the future system of rule in Syria. He also stressed the need for the political parties and community forces to be engaged in building the individual, society, and the state systems and institutions based on the principle of respect for democracy, pluralism and fundamental freedoms.
Wifai’e said that some people’s opposition to democracy can be attributed to misunderstanding and confusion about the values ​​of democracy – such as mechanisms governing the relationship between the individual, society and the state and working to choose the most efficient – and the Western liberal democracy, which adopts democracy in various forms.
Wifai’e said that there is an urgent need to benefit from the democratic building system and the experiences of peoples everywhere in the world, especially those that have fought a long struggle to get rid of tyranny and start the process of democratization.
The attendees asked questions about the issue, stressing the importance of the Syrian people sending a clear message to the world that they are seeking to build a democratic, pluralistic state that is committed to human rights conventions and universal human values. (Source: Syrian National Coalition’s Media Department)
