For the Purpose of Dialogue: A Syrian Forum in Brussels on the Anniversary of Assad’s Fall

Syrian academic Samir al-Taqi told Al Arabiya/Al Hadath Net that “the goal of this consultative forum is to restore Syrian unity.” The Syrian Consultative Forum convened today, Saturday, in the Belgian capital, Brussels. The two-day event is organized by political, academic, and cultural figures to discuss the “form of the state” and to “evaluate the transitional phase” that Syria entered following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December of last year.

Participants in the forum will also examine mechanisms for implementing transitional justice and civil peace, as well as strategies for power-sharing, managing diversity, and exploring possible scenarios for the country one year after Assad’s fall. According to the forum’s agenda, the organizers aim to create an open space for dialogue among various Syrian actors, with a focus on local specificities, governance, and realistic approaches to building a new Syrian state.

Details of the First Session

The first session addressed the performance of the current authorities, the position on the constitutional declaration, the National Dialogue Conference, the process of forming a transitional government, and the implementation of the March agreement between the government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The session also examined episodes of violence in Syria’s coastal regions and in the province of Suwayda, methods for implementing justice, and United Nations Security Council resolutions related to Syria, especially Resolution No. 2799 of 2025.

Subsequent sessions will tackle issues of transitional justice, civil peace, power-sharing, diversity management, and drafting a new “social contract” that upholds civil peace and ensures justice and inclusivity. Participants will also attempt to answer key questions, including: What challenges threaten national cohesion? And how can a new national identity be formed amidst current divisions?

The Goal: Restoring Syrian Unity

Syrian academic Samir al-Taqi—who resides in the United States—is considered one of the forum’s most prominent participants, alongside academic Khaldoun al-Nabbouani, who lives in France. Other notable participants include Syrian politician Mouaffaq Nyrabia, academic Samir Aita, Dr. Mohammed Habash, and Walid al-Bunni, in addition to Syrian women participants such as Farah Yousef, Mayyada Reyhan, and Zozan Mohammed.

Al-Taqi stated that “the goal of this forum, which brings together Syrians from diverse backgrounds and affiliations, is to reach a state of dialogue and joint action aimed at restoring Syrian unity, especially given the deep political, moral, and economic divisions that negatively affect the country’s future.”

He added to AlArabiya.net that “this meeting seeks to develop visions for state-building that would enable the recovery of Syrian society as a whole, without discrimination. The forum is not ideological in nature; rather, it aims to find ways to correct Syria’s developmental trajectory.”

The forum is also continuing its discussions regarding the necessary steps to establish a charter of civil peace, assess progress in the justice process, and prevent its misuse as a tool for score-settling.

Redistribution of Powers

The third session focuses on defining the state as an inclusive umbrella capable of protecting all Syrians and the country’s diverse regions within a new political framework that redistributes authority and ensures participation and effectiveness.

Participants are also discussing political and administrative models that can ensure genuine participation for local communities, and ways to transform Syria’s existing diversity into a source of strength.

The forum is additionally examining how decentralization can serve as a mechanism to prevent Syria’s fragmentation, enhance stability, and safeguard unity and territorial integrity.

The discussions further explore methods for building a decentralized economy based on decentralized structures, in addition to preparing for a general and inclusive Syrian national conference that would lay the foundations for a new phase for all Syrians