Syrian opposition parties met in Damascus on March 28 to discuss the current political developments in Syria. The deliberative meeting does not represent a political entity, as the meeting will be held periodically between the existing alliances and does not seek to cancel them. The meeting will aim to strengthen and expand existing alliances, and to discuss the strategic intersections and future issues to reach joint-working formulas. The participating parties hope to develop their work to form executive steps on the road to radical democratic change.
The opposition parties released a statement claiming national and moral responsibility requires opposition forces to invest in all available opportunities to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people. The parties noted improvements in the consultative meeting to be held in Moscow, especially in its procedures, organization and representation.
As the National Coordination Committee for Democratic Change Forces and the Change and Liberation Front intend to participate in Moscow meeting, opposition parties must coordinate their performance and objectives in the meeting, particularly with regard to the humanitarian crisis – the siege, bombing of civilians and the treatment of detainees. It must also be emphasized that the negotiating process is to be framed on the Geneva I statement with the Geneva conference as its basis, which must be resumed as a result of the Moscow II conference.
The parties and movements which participated in the joint-meeting were:
1. The Arab Socialist Movement
2. The Third Current for Syria
3. The Syrian Kurdish Democratic Party
4. The Social Democratic Party
5. The Peaceful Change Current
6. People's Will Party
7. The Political Bureau of the Communist Party
8. The Democratic Union Party (PYD)
9. The Arab Socialist Democratic Union Party
10. The Communist Labor Party in Syria
Translated and edited by The Syrian Observer