Turkish 'recipe' for Syria ...

Via FLC

"... It seems that some Turks close to the decision-making circles in Ankara are confident that the nomenklatura's 'dream' is to preserve the Assad presidency, but with reduced powers in line with parliamentary systems, a compromise between the legitimate demands of the people, and the survival of Assad, its main strategic ally.

Based on this, confirming leaks that officials Turks who visited Damascus, pressed the Syrian leadership to look closely at a group of Turkish laws,... so they brought with them copies translated into Arabic from Turkish laws relating to combating terrorism and illegal political parties and elections, hoping to 'inspire president Assad'. Among the most noteworthy proposals by the Turks presented to President Assad and his aides, was a version which provides the prerequisite threshold of ten percent for aspiring parties to enable them to compete for representation in Parliament,...basically, to reassure the Baath that the political scene will not be subjected to 'chaos', at least in the transition period.... And the Turks, according to sources, pointed out to the Syrian leadership the benefits of adopting a law preventing the establishment of parties on ethnic, religious or sectarian basis, as a safeguard that the Islamists will not creep on the polity.

Most notably were Turkish proposals calling for the abolition of 'state security courts' to be replaced by 'specialized civilian courts', as it is applied in Turkey. To address the crisis of the Islamists and the radicalization of Syrian society, the Turks proposed to Assad to allow, more like enact 'religious education', but subject to the dictums of the central government, as is the case in Turkey .... under the guidance of a 'Directorate of Religious Affairs', reporting directly to the prime minister..." (Al Akhbar, here)

Posted by G, M, Z, or B at 8:32 PM

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