Has the march of change started in Syria? New government expected within days

News reports in Damascus said that convening the general conference of the Baath Party, expected for several years, is very near after an increasing demand to make amendments to the work programs of the Baath Party and its leadership. The son of the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, is expected to join these programs.

On Thursday, President al-Assad presided over a hourlong meeting of the party's regional leadership (including 20 members) held at the presidential palace. This meeting was the step which marked the beginning of a series of expected changes in Syria on all levels.

Well-informed sources said that President al-Assad talked during the meeting about two important issues: The first issue is internal concerning the party, governmental conditions, and general conditions in Syria, and the second issue was connected to the suspended negotiations with Israel.

On the internal level, President al-Assad concentrated on the need for change and development to cope with the new political and economic developments, with young leaders and capabilities that can meet the ambitions of the public opinion and the need to fight corruption and bad administration.

The sources added that what has been stated of a governmental change in Syria will not be later than one week or ten days.

On the issue of negotiations with Israel, President al-Assad highlighted reasons behind the decision to go to negotiations with Israel in Washington and then in Shepherdstown, stating that in this regard there was no other option but to go there, "But this does not means giving up the Arab rights."