Report: Conference for Change in Syria

The Conference for Change in Syria took place from May 31 to June 2 in Antalya, Turkey, and established a 31-member Consultative Council that will be responsible for organizing and monitoring the activities related to the conference.  The conference also issued a final resolution demanding for President Bashar al-Assad’s resignation and handing leadership to the vice president.  According to the resolution, the vice president will reside over the transitional period, which will not exceed over a year. During this time, an election of a constitutional assembly to adopt a new constitution for the country will take place.  The conference was organized by Syrian opposition groups and dissidents in Turkey in an effort to form a support group to the Syrian Revolution that can lobby to the international community for additional support in the Syrian’s fight against dismantling Assad’s family-based system of leadership.  There were 350 participants, which included protest leaders, Kurds, Islamists, Leftists, Nationalists, Liberals, opposition parties, human rights groups and independent political activists.  A 9-member Executive Committee was also elected, which will be responsible for daily communications and activities.  In addition, several new coalitions were formed, including a coalition of youth activists both inside and outside Syria, a coalition of tribal leaders, and Kurdish opposition figures, etc.  All coalitions will act under the framework that was agreed upon in the conference.

Syrian authorities attempted to disrupt the conference by sending busloads of “thugs.”  Turkish security officers were able to deter most of the buses from entering the area.  Only a few Assad loyalists were able to enter for protests.