Syrian president signs constitutional declaration

On March 13, Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara has signed the draft of the constitutional declaration for 5-year transitional period.

After receiving the draft from the committee responsible for its formulation, President al-Shara expressed hope that it would mark a positive omen for the Syrian people, guiding them towards construction and development, Caliber.Az reports via Syrian media.

He added: "We wish this to be a new chapter for Syria, where we replace ignorance with knowledge and suffering with compassion."

For its part, the committee of experts tasked with drafting the constitutional declaration confirmed in a press conference that the committee had worked diligently since its formation to complete the required task, relying on the outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference in the drafting of the declaration.

The committee clarified that the declaration includes provisions on freedom of opinion, expression, media, publishing, and journalism. It also emphasised the state's commitment to the unity of the land and people and respect for cultural specificities.

The committee stated: "We ensured a dedicated section on rights and freedoms to create a balance between social security and liberty," adding that the declaration guarantees the right to property, women's rights to education, participation in work, and political rights.

According to the committee, the declaration stresses the importance of judges, their rulings, and their independence, leaving the matter of dismissing or reducing the powers of a council member to the People's Assembly. The legislative process will be entirely managed by the People's Assembly, while the executive authority will be vested in the President of the Republic. The transitional phase will last for five years, and the President is granted the right to declare a state of emergency.

By Aghakazim Guliyev