SDC stresses need to launch comprehensive democratic political process

The Syrian Democratic Council issued a statement on the fifteenth anniversary of the start of the Syrian revolution, affirming that this occasion represented a historic milestone during which Syrians had expressed their will for change and the building of a state based on freedom, dignity, and justice.

The statement stated that Syrians took to the streets in various cities and towns, demanding their fundamental rights and emphasizing that the country's future must have been built on the will of the people, the rule of law, and respect for pluralism in all its dimensions.

The Council noted that the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime brought to a close a long period of tyranny and political exclusion, opening a new chapter in Syria's history. That transformation, the statement continued, provided a historic opportunity to rebuild the state on sound foundations, ending the cycles of violence and paving the way for a new national era based on participation and the sovereignty of institution.

The statement affirmed that the goals for which the Syrian revolution was launched remained the compass for any serious political process, foremost among them freedom, dignity, democracy, justice, and the principle of equal citizenship, guaranteeing the rights of all Syrians and preserving their national, religious, and cultural diversity.

Regarding the political process, the council stressed the need to adhere to relevant international resolutions, foremost among them Security Council Resolution 2254, which called for launching a comprehensive political process that included drafting a democratic constitution and holding free and fair elections in a secure environment that allowed for the participation of all Syrians. It also referred to Security Council Resolution 2799, which affirmed that a comprehensive political solution was the only way to achieve stability in the country.

The Syrian Democratic Council called for launching a genuine democratic political process based on an inclusive national dialogue that guaranteed the participation of all Syrians without exclusion and led to the drafting of a new social contract that established a democratic, partnership-based, and civil state.

The statement also stressed the importance of rebuilding state institutions on professional and national foundations, consolidating the rule of law, and adopting democratic governance models based on decentralization, thereby enhancing the participation of local communities in managing their affairs.

The Council affirmed that achieving stability in Syria required addressing the effects of years of conflict by establishing justice for victims, revealing the fate of detainees and the forcibly disappeared, providing reparations, and working towards societal reconciliation. It emphasized that transitional justice was a fundamental condition for building sustainable peace.

In closing, the Syrian Democratic Council reiterated its commitment to working with various Syrian national forces to establish a democratic political path that preserved Syria's unity and sovereignty and established a pluralistic, partnership-based civil state. It also expressed its appreciation to the Syrian people for their resilience and sacrifices.