Suwayda conference recommends forming negotiation team to engage Syrian central government

SUWAYDA, Syria — A wide-ranging civil and political conference held in the southern Syrian city of Suwayda concluded with a series of recommendations, the most notable being the formation of a negotiation team to engage with the central government in Daramsuq (Damascus). The team would represent all of Suwayda’s political, social, and religious components.

Held at the city’s cultural center, the conference brought together a diverse group of participants, including members of the peaceful protest movement, political figures, civil society representatives, internal security forces, tribal leaders, Christian community members, and social and religious figures.

The primary aim of the gathering was to unify the political and civil stance within Suwayda and to develop a collective vision reflecting the aspirations of its residents. Speakers emphasized the need to identify practical solutions to the region’s mounting crises. They also stressed the importance of a unified position, particularly as Suwayda faces increasing economic hardship and political fragmentation across Syria.

Among the key outcomes of the conference was the recommendation to establish a negotiation team tasked with engaging the central government in Daramsuq. Its mission would be to communicate with the central authorities to secure the governorate’s administrative and developmental rights and to discuss the future relationship between the central government and the governorate in a way that ensures fair representation of the population and provides lasting solutions to service, educational, and economic issues.