From 9 to 14 November 2017, members of various groups of the Syrian opposition gathered in Istanbul to work together on the cornerstones of a future constitution for Syria. The participants originate from the Syrian societal groups of the Kurds, Yazidis, Druze, Assyrians, Turkmens and Nazeheen and thus reflected the diversity of the Syrian society. Similar to the previous workshops, the participants were supported by Prof. Dr. iur. Eva-Maria Belser from the University of Freiburg in Switzerland and Dr. Sören Keil from the Canterbury Christ Church University in the UK. Both are renowned experts in the fields of federalism and constitution.
Similar to the previous workshops, the participants were supported by Prof. Dr. iur. Eva-Maria Belser from the University of Freiburg in Switzerland and Dr. Sören Keil from the Canterbury Christ Church University in the UK. Both are renowned experts in the fields of federalism and constitution.
During the workshop, the participants dealt with the following seven key issues, which are decisive for the constitutional process:
1. Government systems, in particular the comparison of presidential and parliamentary systems; 2. The composition of the parliament, including the various electoral systems; 3. The highest courts and judicial independence, including the possibilities of constitutional amendments; 4. The distribution of competences in federal states; 5. Taxes and resources; 6. Criteria for creating regions, such as ethnic and/ or territorial criteria; 7. The transition process, including reconciliation and reconstruction.
The participants discussed in depth which systems could be a model for Syria, how a constitution is the basis for the establishment of democratic structures and which principles should by no means be lacking in a future constitution.
Due to the positive response of the participants, the European Center for Kurdish Studies plans to hold the next workshop in February 2018. For this meeting the number of participants will be again expanded by members of additional ethnic, religious and linguistic groups of Syria.
