Hopes for change emerge from Baath party congress
In the final declaration of the congress, party delegates urge the government to start actual reforms and renew relations with the United States. President Assad is re-elected Baath's leader.
Damascus (AsiaNews) The Baath party congress ended today with its 1235 delegates endorsing recommendations for reform that include the right to form new political parties, greater press freedom, a more open economy and a greater dialogue with the United States. It also reiterated Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's hold on the party.
In its final statement, the congress stressed the importance of the current historical phase which is so critical for Syria and the Middle East. At a time of strong French and US pressures, the congress urges everyone to "take part in building the path of Syria's renaissance".
These pressures stem from UN Resolution 1559 which calls on Syria to withdraw its military forces and intelligence services from Lebanon after a 30-year presence.
The delegates also gave the green light to new parties, freer media, economic reforms and a market system. They also called for changes to the country's old electoral laws.
The congress recommended the creation of the Higher Council for media and modifications the prints law as well the issuing of the media law.
The delegates, who meet in congress every five years, re-elected Assad as the party leader and the 13 members of its ruling council. Former Vice-President Abd El Halim Khaddam and General Moustafa Tlas were not among them.
The delegates also endorsed a proposal to renew the dialogue with the United States so that diplomatic visits between the two parties are "more frequent and at all levels" so as to "put a stop to the accusations made against Syria".
The spokesman for Syria's opposition Hassan Abdel Azim told AsiaNews that the congress is "the government's last chance to implement real reform before it is too late. If it does not follow the congress's recommendations, it will collapse."
US response was muted. But the US government ordered US banks to freeze all accounts of companies that do business with Syria alleging "arms are being provided to Saddam Hussein's followers" from Syria. It also accused Damascus of being "solely responsible for the region's disorder".
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's envoy, Norwegian diplomat Tery Lord Larssen, is expected in the Syrian capital tomorrow where he will continue overseeing the implementation of UN Resolution 1559. In particular, he is to discuss setting up a UN commission to monitor the total withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon.
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