Khaddam warns that Syria could become a “tempting morsel” for the greedy.
The Syrian National Salvation Front, which includes former Syrian Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam and the Muslim Brotherhood, held a meeting on Sunday, June 4, 2006, in London to discuss an action plan aimed at democratic change in Syria, as reported by a correspondent for the French Press Agency.
The “Founding Conference” of the Syrian National Salvation Front, which will take place over two days at the Dorchester Hotel in the British capital, will include around fifty opposing figures, especially from Kurdish, independent, and communist parties, alongside Khaddam and the General Observer of the Muslim Brotherhood, Ali Sadreddine al-Bayanouni.
Khaddam warned that Syria could become a “tempting morsel” for the greedy, while Ali Sadreddine al-Bayanouni emphasized that change has never been easy or facilitated, especially in the current circumstances.
Khaddam stated in his opening speech at the conference, “The current Syrian regime is a regime of individualism, family, and entourage that aids in spreading corruption and fear.” He emphasized that there is “no choice but for Syrians to choose the path of change and democracy.” He added, “The regime is on the verge of falling… when the person with the word is arrested, and when the person with the idea is arrested, and when words become mightier than the sword, this means the regime is on the verge of falling.” However, he acknowledged that “there are significant challenges on the path of change, and we must recognize these challenges and work to overcome them.”
On his part, al-Bayanouni said, “The authority in Syria is trying to support its existence through three axes: the internal axis by rallying under the national flag, arguing that an external enemy threatens Syria and that all the citizens of the country should unite around the regime to defend their homeland; the Arab and Islamic axis, where the authority strives to present itself as a bulwark against foreign forces, and the international axis, where this authority promotes the idea that the alternative would be chaos and, in return, seeks to strike deals with foreign powers at the expense of our major national issues.” Al-Bayanouni called for “exposing tyranny, corruption, and capitulation to international forces… strengthening political relations with the world around us, reinforcing ties with the Arab and Islamic surroundings, and making continuous efforts to isolate the ruling clique officially, popularly, and internationally according to a well-planned and calculated process.”
