By: Dr. Adnan Bozan 

Amid the deep challenges facing Syria today, it has become imperative for all components of the Syrian people to engage in a comprehensive national dialogue whose sole compass is the preservation of the country’s unity and the restoration of independent national decision-making, free from any foreign agendas. This dialogue should not be merely a passing political meeting but rather a strategic transformation towards a democratic state that acknowledges all its components and lays the foundation for a future based on rights and equal citizenship.

1- One Syria… A Syrian Decision

Foreign interventions have long been a key factor in complicating the Syrian crisis, whether through imposing agendas contrary to national interests or by exploiting internal divisions to bolster the influence of regional and international powers. Therefore, any genuine national dialogue must be based on Syrian sovereignty, ensuring that all local parties are represented at the dialogue table without being hostage to any external pressures or dictates.

2- From Authoritarianism and Exclusionary Thinking to Democracy and Pluralism

A stable and sustainable Syria cannot be envisioned if authoritarian rule and exclusionary ideologies persist, whether in their narrow nationalist form or extremist Islamist interpretation. Democratic transition is not a luxury but an essential prerequisite for rebuilding the state on modern foundations based on:

• Separating power from totalitarian ideologies, whether nationalist or religious.

• Recognizing the rights of all components, including Arabs, Kurds, Syriacs, Assyrians, Armenians, Turkmens, and others, ensuring their fair representation.

• Elevating the concept of citizenship above narrow affiliations, so that ultimate loyalty is to the state and the law, rather than sect, ethnicity, or party.

3- A Roadmap for Syria’s Stability

For this national dialogue to succeed, a clear and practical approach must be adopted, including:

✅ Ending all forms of political exclusion, ensuring that all components have a role in shaping the future.

✅ Rebuilding national institutions based on transparency, independence, and efficiency rather than narrow loyalties.

✅ Achieving transitional justice, through fair accountability for those involved in war crimes or human rights violations, while opening the door for national reconciliation.

✅ Drafting a new constitution that reflects the aspirations of all Syrians and establishes a decentralized democratic civil state that respects everyone’s rights without discrimination.

✅ Ensuring genuine independence from foreign powers, ending the dependency on any projects that do not serve the country’s unity.

Conclusion: Syria Needs a Sincere National Will

Syria’s future can only be shaped by its own people, and there will be no peace or stability as long as internal divisions and foreign interventions dictate the country’s fate. Building a new Syria requires the courage to break free from the old constraints, transitioning from authoritarianism to democracy, from sectarian and nationalist conflicts to coexistence, and from foreign dependency to true independence.

This national dialogue is not an option but an existential necessity to ensure that Syria remains a united, free, and democratic state. Do we have the will to embark on this difficult yet essential journey?