National dialogue sessions begin in Daraa

National dialogue sessions were concluded on Tuesday in Damascus governorate, with the closing sessions focusing on social, services and development issues. Participants stressed the importance of social upbringing and raising children on the principles of national unity and social cohesion, in addition to teaching children the art of dialogue, initiative and self-expression. They also called for providing housing and especially to youths, bolstering the infrastructure of school and maintaining free education, improving the levels of teachers, developing curricula, and opening new university faculties. The participants underlined the severity of the issue of drugs that some are trying to bring into Syria to influence Syrian youth, calling for dealing with smuggling effectively. Other points that were raised include balancing development and investment projects in all areas, supporting volunteer initiatives, the need to increase youths' participation in politics and supporting internal tourism. In statements to SANA, participants said that the sessions were transparent and that all issues that concern the street have been discussed without reservation, especially issues related to combating corruption, reform the judicial system, investment and creating more job opportunities. They invited national opposition within Syria to participate in a more active manner in national dialogue as its represents the means to establish security and justice, stressing the need for those who rely on foreign forces to destabilize Syria to be held accountable. The participants also discussed the obstacles facing the Syrian youths which hinder them from finding a space for developing their hobbies and capabilities, stressing the importance of setting a comprehensive national strategy for the youths based on partnership between the governorate and the civil society. They considered that holding the National Dialogue Conference is a qualitative leap towards achieving integration in viewpoints, visions and ideas in a way that would reflect positively on the citizens and the homeland. Opening the door for the largest number of youths to peruse their higher education to improve their cultural status was also on the table. The sessions of the national dialogue in the provinces and universities had earlier wrapped up activities by submitting the recommendations related to the political, economic, social and service spheres to be discussed during the forthcoming central dialogue conference. In Daraa Province, dialogue sessions and popular meetings were launched at the level of the Province's main cities with the aim of reviewing the situation of Daraa and inspecting visions and viewpoints proposed by popular, economic and party bodies representing all society spectrums to contribute to boosting the state of security and stability and to develop the economic, service and social situation in Daraa. Participants' demands in the dialogue session focused on the importance of maintaining the national unity and boosting dialogue culture, being the best way to solve most of the problems and to overcome obstacles facing the Province. They stressed the importance of enhancing the internal front, adhering to the national and pan-Arab firm principles, continuing the support of the Resistance and keeping on holding such meetings regularly to listen to people's interests and objections before they accumulate, in addition to coordinating efforts to get out of the current situation in the Province and to improve the living standards of the citizens in all domains.