Thoughts on forming an interim government in Syria?

Thoughts on forming an interim government in Syria?

Over the past week, more news is surfacing regarding the formation of an opposition government that would act as a transitional government to lead the way into a post-Assad Syria. Indeed, spokespersons for the National Coalition formed last month are already saying an interim government should be formed in the next few days.

Such prospects are not only welcomed but much needed. The Syrian political opposition, and specifically the Coalition, will need to move quickly to take practical and bold steps to show both the revolutionaries on the ground and the outside world that they can effectively fill the political vacuum left by Assad’s receding regime.

Of course, it is critical to ensure that public figures selected for this interim government meet a few criteria: they must be selected wisely without international pressure; have the necessary skillset/experience for the selected role; they cannot be somebody who had been, until recently, closely connected to the regime. And, of course, they must have a close/intimate connection to the revolution on the ground, to the inside of Syria.

This last point is crucial. Many of us outside of Syria have spent the past 21 months doing very valuable work to raise awareness of the revolution and doing our best in solidarity with our brothers and sisters on the inside, those who have been martyred, maimed, imprisoned, tortured, internally displaced or became refugees in neighboring countries. I for one, have been working in my capacity as international civil servant, advising the political opposition on issues raised at the UN where I have worked for more than 30 years (representing the UN itself, not the Syrian government).

But we, outside Syria should not have the political aspirations to run the country. Instead, we must continue that auxiliary role we are best suited for. Among our revolutionaries on the ground and recent exiles, we have enough qualified individuals to lead the imminent interim government into the Syria of the future.

Victory is coming, and sooner than later.