Full press statement announcing formation of Levantine National Council

DARAMSUQ — In an announcement made today in Daramsuq (Damascus), a group of Syrian Christians unveiled the formation of the Levantine National Council, a new initiative aimed at fostering unity and rebuilding Syria as a pluralistic, democratic, and inclusive nation. Emphasizing their deep-rooted connection to the land and their vital role in shaping Syria’s history, the Council seeks to organize and amplify the voice of the Christian community in the country’s political and civil life. Read the full statement below:

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Statement to the Public: On the Establishment of the Levantine National Council

In the beginning was the Word, and since time immemorial, Syria has existed … From the womb of suffering, today a new initiative of hope is born.

We, a group of Syrian Christians, hereby announce at this historic and pivotal moment the establishment of the Levantine National Council, out of our deep belief in our national responsibility and our inherent role in rebuilding the future of Syria after years of destruction, displacement, and suffering that have affected all Syrians.

This council is being established as a national initiative aiming to organize the ranks of the Christian community in Syria, to activate their historical role in state-building, and to ensure their effective participation in shaping a new Syria — a sovereign, free, independent, pluralistic, and democratic Syria, open to all its citizens without discrimination.

Syrian Christians are not newcomers to this land, they are an inseparable part of its civilizational, spiritual, and human fabric. Their presence dates back thousands of years, and they have long contributed to the development of enduring Eastern civilizations — Canaanite, Phoenician, Aramean, Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Chaldean, and Syriac — upholding the values of diversity, tolerance, and openness. They played a key role in founding the modern Syrian state and in advancing education, culture, and the inclusive national identity.

Syrian Christians have participated in the country’s revolutions and national milestones, offering martyrs in defense of Syria’s unity and the dignity of its people. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to the principles of the Syrian revolution — freedom, dignity, and justice — and we believe that building a new Syria can only be achieved through genuine partnership among all components of Syrian society, with no exclusion or marginalization.

The Levantine National Council aims to:

• Represent Syrian Christians in political and civil life
• Defend their national, religious, and cultural rights
• Contribute to building a state of citizenship, based on the neutrality of the state toward all ethnicities, cultures, and religions
• Promote cultural and religious diversity as a pillar of national unity
• Preserve the uniqueness of the Christian identity, culture, and native language, and affirm recognition of their ethnicity within an inclusive national identity, while guaranteeing the freedom to practice religious rituals

We seek openness and cooperation with all national forces and aspire to help craft a comprehensive national project grounded in human values, human rights, transitional justice, and national reconciliation, paving the way for rebuilding the Syria we dream of.

Accordingly, we announce preparations to hold the Founding Conference of the Levantine National Council in Damascus soon. We invite all our people, from across the country and from all ethnicities and denominations, to actively participate in this event, out of the belief that the future is built through solidarity and collective action.

As Jesus Christ said:

“Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

With this faith, we move forward together to build a Syria worthy of the sacrifices of its people. A Syria of peace, citizenship, coexistence, and the realization of transitional justice, leading toward forgiveness, reconciliation, and the creation of the right conditions for rebuilding the Syria of tomorrow.

Damascus

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