Syria stands at a crossroads. The authorities' monopoly on everything for more than 30 years has established an authoritarian, totalitarian, and cliquish [fi'awi] regime.

The signatories have reached an accord on the following:

Establishing a democratic national regime. It must be peaceful, gradual, founded on accord, and based on dialogue.

Shunning totalitarian thought and shunning violence in exercising political action; and seeking to prevent and avoid violence in any form and by any side.

No party or trend has the right to claim an exclusive role. No one has the right to shun the other, persecute him (sic), and usurp his right to existence, free expression, and participation in the homeland.

Adoption of democracy as a modern system that has universal values and bases, based on the principles of liberty, sovereignty of the people, a State of institutions, and the transfer of power through free and periodic elections that enable the people to hold those in power accountable and change them.

Guarantee the freedom of individuals, groups, and national minorities to express themselves, and safeguard their cultural and linguistic rights, with the State respecting and caring for those rights, within the framework of the Constitution and under the law.

Find a just democratic solution to the Kurdish issue in Syria, in a manner that guarantees the complete equality of Syrian Kurdish citizens with the other citizens.

Commitment to the liberation of the occupied territories and regaining the Golan Heights, and enabling Syria to carry out an effective and positive Arab and regional role.

Liberate popular organizations, federations, trade unions, and chambers of commerce, industry, and agriculture from the custodianship of the State and from party and security hegemony. Provide them with the conditions of free action as civil society organizations.

Correct the relationship with Lebanon, so that it will be based on liberty, equality, sovereignty, and the common interests of the two peoples and countries.

Observe all international treaties and conventions and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.

The signatories to this declaration believe the process of change has begun. It brooks no postponement because the country needs it. It is not directed against anyone, but requires everyone's efforts. Here we call on the Ba'thist citizens of our homeland and citizens from various political, cultural, religious, and confessional groups to participate with us and not to hesitate or be apprehensive, because the desired change is in everyone's interest and is feared only by those involved in crimes and corruption. The process of change can be organized as follows:

Opening the channels for a comprehensive and equitable national dialogue among all the components and social, political, and economic groups of the Syrian people.

Call for the election of a Constituent Assembly that draws up a new Constitution for the country that foils extremists, and that guarantees the separation of powers, safeguards the independence of the judiciary, and achieves national integration.

We pledge to work to end the stage of despotism. We declare our readiness to offer the necessary sacrifices for that purpose, and to do all that is necessary to enable the process of democratic change to take off, and to build a modern Syria, a free homeland for all of its citizens, safeguard the freedom of its people, and protect national independence.