Syrian government forms committee for National Dialogue Conference

ISTANBUL

The Syrian government announced Wednesday the establishment of a preparatory committee for the National Dialogue Conference, according to the country’s official news agency, SANA.

The decision was issued by President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, it said, adding that it “is based on the supreme national interests and the need to meet the aspirations of the Syrian people."

The committee is responsible for establishing the framework for its work to guarantee the success of the dialogue, as per the presidential resolution.

The duties of the committee will conclude once the final statement of the conference is released.

Bashar Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups took control of Damascus on Dec. 8, ending the Baath Party’s regime, which had been in power since 1963.

Syria’s military operations administration announced Jan. 29 the appointment of al-Sharaa as president, the repeal of the 2012 Constitution and the dissolution of the former regime’s parliament, army and security agencies.