Baathists take part in the dialogue and criticize Seif's documents
Syria, Politics, 2/2/2001

The meeting held at the house of the Syrian parliament member Riad Seif to discuss the thoughts stated in the document of the Social Peace Movement at the national dialogue forum was characterized for the first time to be attended by Baathists academics.

On Wednesday Seif proposed his documents which includes several principles and ideas of the " Social Peace Movement." A movement which he intends to establish as soon as the parties law will be issues in Syria.

The documents highlighted the past and tries to draw a program for the present and for the future.

In all this documents, they hold the government the responsibility to start reforms, especially as it speaks of very sensitive issues which are in need of critical decisions.

After reading the document Seif tried to defend himself ( sometimes against accusation addressed to him as being anti- nationalist).

In what it seemed an organized reply from a group of academic Baathists who were attending for the first time, the teacher of constitutional law and political systems at Damascus university Faisal Kalthoum accused Seif as " an agent for a foreign company," who wants to make a liberal party leads to freedom in Syria. A matter which Kalthoum described as " dangerous and frightening."

Kalthoum also criticized the democratic experience in both Jordan and Lebanon and considered the " liberal system existed in Jordan will lead to grave national catastrophe."

Kalthoum, also recalled the call advocated recently by one of the Jordanian parliament members to evacuate the Palestinians from Jordan.

Another Baathist and university teacher " Ibrahim Zarour" said that the presence of all in the forum is an evidence of the " secure general policies of the country and the political leadership as a dialogue is maintained among various political parties and affiliations."

One of the participants said that Seif has come from a Bourgeois " that represents a new class" that tries in a way or another to join the political line. This participants blamed Seif because he gave no mention to " peasants in the document he debated and Seif answered " eventually the Bourgeois is a partner in the rule of the country."

Another participant said " our minds should be respected, agents for foreign companies in this country are the sons of high ranking officials in it."

Seif's answers were short and limited in most of the times and that was to give the chance for others estimated at 100 participants to take part in the debate.

Previous Stories:
  Syrian Prime minister to meet with Egyptian counterpart   (1/27/2001)
  Seif and the new party in Syria   (1/27/2001)
  Syria and the human rights defense committee   (1/27/2001)

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