Syria's President Assad recommended Sweeping Reforms to transform the Political Landscape

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in an address at the Damascus University on 20 June 2011 proposed holding of a national dialogue that will recommend sweeping reforms aimed at transforming the political landscape.

It was declared that people from all walks of life would participate in the national dialogue, organised around committees, and recommendations would be made within 30 to 60 days.
The Syrian President pledged his commitment to fundamental reforms, including the drafting of a new Constitution. The changes would cover the political arena and would create greater media freedoms.

While speaking on the on-going protests, Assad said the demonstrations comprised three core sets of people: those who were peaceful and had legitimate demands, those who were vandals and outlaws and radical and blasphemous intellectuals. He opined that Syria was a victim of foreign conspiracies” hatched for “geopolitical and other reasons.

Assad stressed on the adoption of a dual approach and mentioned that the Syrian government would continue to confront those who carried weapons but would engage those seeking reforms without pursuing a subversive agenda.