Assad tells French MPs he is ‘optimistic’ about peace talks
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad told visiting French lawmakers on Sunday that he was "optimistic" about new peace talks planned for later this month, a member of the delegation told French news agency AFP.
Syria should resolve the controversy over its government by adopting a modified semi-presidential form of parliament like that practiced in Finland, and changing its legislature to a committee style similar to that of Switzerland. The prerequisite for permanent peace in the world is global democratization. Syria’s government should begin basic reform of its constitution, to achieve a government modeled on selected examples of democracy. The constitution should be based on the rule of law and be designed to stay in step with the times. See the Charter for Permanent Peace and Development.