Timeline: Syrian President's Trail of Promises
Following is a list of successive promises made by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad towards introducing reforms and ending the opposition protest movement.
March 2011: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in his first public statement since the start of protests on March 15, says Syria is facing a "conspiracy."
April 14: Assad announces the release of those arrested since the start of the protests, except for those who have committed "criminal acts."
April 21: Assad promulgates three decrees to meet opposition demands, lifting the state of emergency in force since 1963; abolishing the State Security Court; authorizing, subject to conditions, peaceful demonstrations. The next day, 80 people were killed in the crackdown.
May 31: Assad announces a general amnesty, including for members of the banned Muslim Brotherhood and all political detainees.
June 1: The president announces the creation of a body "charged with laying down the bases of a national dialogue, and determining its mechanism and program. The following day, the Syrian opposition, meeting in Turkey, demands his "immediate resignation."
June 20: Speaking on television, Assad again raises the "conspiracy" specter against Syria. He asserted there would be no reforms amid "sabotage and chaos" and recommends a "national dialogue" which could lead to a new constitution. The protesters reject any dialogue that does not involve a change of regime.
August 4: The regime authorizes the creation of political parties within the umbrella of the ruling Baath party, whose statute under the constitution is guaranteed as "leader of the State and society."
August 18: Assad, ahead of a Security Council meeting, announces the end of military operations, a measure which is not followed on the ground.
August 22: United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon terms as "problematic" Assad's inability to respect his promises.
October 15: Assad announces a committee charged with drawing up a new constitution within four months; originally one of the protesters main demands, but it has been overtaken by that of the departure of the president.
October 16: The Arab League calls for the rapid holding of a "national dialogue conference" between the Syrian government and opposition, to bring an end to violence and "avoid foreign intervention."
November 2: The Arab League and Syria agree a plan envisaging the total halt of violence, release of those arrested within the framework of protest, the military evacuation of towns prey to armed conflict, and the free movement of observers and media, ahead of a national dialogue. Despite these pledges, violence results the same day in 34 deaths in Syria.
Source: Agence France Presse
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