‘Itself by Itself’

Syria’s long-awaited “national dialogue” conference kicked off in the capital on Tuesday in an attempt by the country’s new leaders to move forward in rebuilding the shattered country after the fall of the previous regime and almost 14 years of civil war, the Associated Press reported.

Former Islamist insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – responsible for ousting former President Bashar Assad last December and now leading the nation – invited more than 600 people from different minority groups of Syria to join the conference in Damascus, but it is not clear how many participated. Meanwhile, the Syrian Kurds, which hold most of the northeast and a large portion of the country’s oil fields, were notably not invited.

“Just as Syria has liberated itself by itself, it is appropriate for it to build itself by itself,” said HTS leader and current President Ahmad al-Sharaa at the conference, insisting on the importance of serving the interests of the Syrian nation and people.

Among Syria’s challenges are rebuilding the economy and war-wrecked infrastructure, along with setting up a new constitution, government, and legal system – the latter must include a mechanism to try those accused of war crimes, analysts say.

Syrians and the international community are watching closely to see if the new rulers will follow through on their promise of creating an inclusive political transition.

One issue is funding for reconstruction even as Western economic sanctions remain in place. However, earlier this week, the European Union eased sanctions on Syria’s energy, transport, and banking sectors in an attempt to assist in the adjustment period after the fall of the Assad regime, France 24 reported.

The EU’s decision to ease sanctions comes with conditions that the new Syrian government commits to upholding democracy and respecting minorities’ rights.

Many minority communities in the country are skeptical of the HTS and are afraid for their own futures, even if the group broke ties with al Qaeda years ago and the interim president is pledging peaceful coexistence for all Syrians.

One of the HTS’s main challenges will be uniting former insurgent factions into one national army. For now, the US-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have refused to disarm and dissolve, and continue to demand self-rule.