From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Damascus Declaration
Damascus Declaration
The Damascus Declaration (Arabic: )إعالن دمشقwas a moving forward, not fast, but methodically." He said that
statement of unity by Syrian opposition figures issued in the members had been convicted for their "contact with
October 2005. It criticized the Syrian government regime an individual in Lebanon who had invited the U.S. to at-
as `authoritarian, totalitarian and cliquish,` and called tack Syria. This is against our law." In response to Sena-
for `peaceful, gradual,` reform `founded on accord, and tor Cardin’s suggestion that Syria adhere to internation-
based on dialogue and recognition of the other.` [1] al standards, Asad chuckled in reply "You do not see this
The five-paged document unveiled at an unautho- (freedom of expression) anywhere in the region," com-
rized press conference was signed by more than 250 "ma- paring the situation of half a million Palestinian refugees
jor opposition figures" as well as parties "both secular in Syria and saying that "if he were working against his
and religious, Arab and Kurdish."[1] It was considered im- people, he would not enjoy such popularity."[4]
portant that the statement included the powerful Mus-
lim Brotherhood group of Syria, in addition to secular
groups.[2][1] [3] The statement called for a "fair solution
See also
for the Kurdish issue in Syria in a way insures the equali- • Politics of Syria
ty of Kurds with all other Syrian citizens".[3]
Syrian journalist and activist Michel Kilo launched
the declaration, writing its first draft. Riad Seif, another
External links
democracy activist, was the first signatory. [1] The "five • Damascus Declaration (eng)
small opposition groups" signing the declaration were
the Arab nationalist National Democratic Rally, the Kur- References
dish Democratic Alliance, the Committees of Civil Soci-
ety, the Kurdish Democratic Front and the [Movement of [1] ^ Wright, Robin, Dreams and shadows, the Future of
the Future|Future Party].[3] the Middle East, Penguin Press, 2008, p.232-4
Twelve members of the Damascus Declaration Na- [2] Syriancomment, May 15, 2006
tional Council were sentenced to two and a half years [3] ^ Opposition Groups Issue ’Damascus Declaration’
in prison in October 2008. According to a leaked March for a Regime Change
2009 diplomatic cable, Syrian President Bashar al-Asad [4] American embassy Damascus (2009-03-09).
responded to a comment by U.S. Senator Cardin that he "Viewing cable 09DAMASCUS179, PRESIDENT ASAD
could give "specific examples of citizens jailed for their AND CODEL CARDIN DISCUSS A NUCLEAR".
political views" by saying that "we are a country in http://cablegate.wikileaks.org/cable/2009/03/
process of reform. We aren’t perfect. You are talking 09DAMASCUS179.html.
about 12 people out of 20 million. It’s a process. We are
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Categories:
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