A meeting was held yesterday in Brussels, attended by 25 Syrian opposition figures, including former deputy to the Syrian president Abdel Halim Khaddam and the General Supervisor of the Muslim Brotherhood group Ali Sadreddine Bayanouni. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss an “action program” for change in Syria, which will be announced today.
Obeida Nahas, the director of the Arab East Institute in London, close to Bayanouni, stated that the meeting “discusses the practical program for changing the regime in Syria in a peaceful manner,” and that it “will result in a framework for opposition action and a work program for the opposition abroad,” which will be broadcasted today.
Nahas added that the meeting is attended by opposition forces and figures abroad, including Islamists, liberals, leftists, and nationalists supportive of the Damascus declaration. He clarified, “It does not include opposition figures from the inside due to the security situation and the repeated arrests of opposition figures participating in meetings abroad.”
Hossam al-Deri, the Secretary-General of the Syrian Democratic National Gathering based in Washington, stated, “This is the first time in history that all opposition movements inside and outside Syria sit together around one table and agree on a joint plan.”
In response to a question about whether the opposition receives support from Western or Arab countries, al-Deri said, “The international support we will receive will not be sufficient at all. We always believe that we should get more support. This government in Syria has long received a lot of support from international power centers.”
Jihad Khaddam, the son of Abdel Halim Khaddam, stated that his father, who lives in France, chose to organize the meeting in Belgium because he is committed to French law, which prohibits engaging in political activities under the conditions of his political asylum.
Jihad Khaddam added, “The Syrian people are no longer able to bear the pressure of the regime, and they will revolt,” pointing out that his father pledged to return to Damascus after a revolution before the end of the coming summer. He explained, “The alliance is open to everyone. Of course, we cannot mention the names of our supporters inside to ensure their safety.”
He confirmed that the opposition in exile has counted many supporters inside the ruling Baath Party. He also expressed his belief that the army will remain neutral if a popular protest movement against what he described as the “thin dictatorship layer” erupts, noting that the opposition will agree on a civilian constitution based on the institutions formed in 1950 during the transitional period.
Khaddam met last month in Brussels with the General Supervisor of the Muslim Brotherhood group, Ali Sadreddine Bayanouni. They decided to contact various Syrian opposition parties to intensify pressure on the ruling regime in Damascus.
