Jarba calls for national dialogue between Syrian tribes

CAIRO - 19 September 2017: Syria’s “Al-Ghad” (Tomorrow) opposition movement’s chairperson, Ahmed Jarba called for a national dialogue between the Arabian tribes in Syria “before it’s too late.”

Jarba added during a press conference held in Cairo Tuesday morning that his country [Syria] will not accept to be a card within other countries’ and powers’ hands. “This is the right time to say our word and raise our voice demanding all Syrians’ rights. We open our hearts and minds for all of you to have a real a chance at determining our destiny,” he said.

The two-day conference supposes to include several closed sessions between the different Syrian tribes to reach a political solution regarding eastern Syria.

On July 23, the first Egypt-brokered ceasefire was announced in the Ghouta region in Damascus, while the second de-escalation deal was announced in an area in northern Homs countryside on August 3.

The Syrian current deteriorating situations have had its toll on the social, economic and political fabric of these tribes, which are integral parts of the Syrian nation.

Syria's Al-Ghad opposition movement was founded in March 2016 by Syrian National Council member, Ahmed Jarba. Recently, the movement signed a ceasefire agreement in eastern Ghouta with the Syrian regime.

The Syrian political situation has been deteriorating since the protests emerged with the Arab Spring revolutions in 2011, when the opposition created the “Free Syrian Army” to face Assad’s forces. The situation worsened when the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group began interfering in the country in 2014.

About 470,000 people have been killed since the beginning of the war as of February 2016, according to the latest data from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Some 1.6 million Syrians have been domestically displaced, while the number of refugees has reached 4.8 million people, the data added.