President al-Assad Issues Forming National Committee for Preparing Draft Constitution

President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday issued forming the national committee for preparing a draft constitution for the Syrian Arab Republic to be issued later according to the constitutional principles.

According to the decree, the Committee must complete its mission within a period not exceeding four months from the date of issuing the decree and it has the right to consult whoever it finds appropriate to accomplish the mission.

Nizar Skeif, Committee member, said forming the committee is a strategic decision in Syria’s history at the political, economic and social levels.

He added that the constitution is the main law to which three strategic concepts are tied: the state, the authority and the people, indicating that the decision will lead to a qualitative leap in the history of Syria.

Member of the Committee, Qadri Jamil, ”The committee will lay down the draft constitution which, when changed, will signal the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. It will be the third Syrian constitution after independence, that’s why it should take into consideration the structural changes in society.”

Omran al-Zouaby, member of the Committee, said that forming the Committee is an extra step in the comprehensive political changes in Syria, adding that the constitution is the lever of all prospective changes.

Member of the Committee Kinda al-Shammat said the decision on forming the committee for preparing a draft constitution is one of the most important reforms in Syria, adding that it comes as part of the package of reforms issued recently, including the laws of parties, local administration and elections.

Al-Shammat stressed the importance of preserving the achievements of the Syrian women, adding that the draft constitution will be put to public referendum for the Syrian people to have their say.