Forum in Syria’s Qamishli discusses decentralization
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Views of the participants in the consultative forum for the political parties and forces in Syria, held in Qamishli in northeast Syria, varied on the concept of decentralization.
Dozens of politicians, intellectuals and representatives of democratic forces, participating in the consultative forum, are discussing several axes, on top of which the decentralization.
The forum, taking place in Qamishli for two days, is discussing the axes of the Syrian political solution, decentralization, and the concept of the inclusive national identity.
Member of the Executive Bureau of the National Coordination Committee (NCC), Ziyad Watfeh, said that “Decentralization was overburdened with problems and complications due to different concerns between two parties.”
Watfeh pointed out that there are fears that the idea of the decentralized may lead to “the fragmentation and division of the homeland.”
Others, who reject the decentralized system, say it is “continuing the system of repression and tyranny.”
The Syrian politician believes that the decentralized system which is globally in force aims to deepen the role of public participation.
The participants are working for the success of their democratic project in Syria, and changing the government system from an “authoritarian security” to a “decentralized, pluralistic democratic one,” he indicated.
Politician Jaafar Ali said that the decentralization in underdeveloped societies causes civil wars.
“The decentralization must be discussed after solving the Syrian crisis completely,” Ali told North Press.
He added that the discussions now must focus on the stability of the country, and that discussing decentralization must in times of peace not conflicts.
In December 2021, the preparatory committee of the Democratic Powers and Figures Conference in cooperation with the Olof Palme International Center for Peace and Democracy held the first consultative forum under the title “Stockholm Consultative Meeting for Democratic Powers and Figures: Necessity, Possibilities and Hope”, in the Swedish capital, Stockholm.
In April 2022, the second consultative forum was held in Stockholm, under the auspices of the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Olof Palme center.
The forum was attended by 39 Syrian political figures, as well as representatives of the United States, Britain, France and the Scandinavian countries.