Al-Shaybani: The End of Negotiations with Israel Will Be Withdrawal and Ceasing Interference in Syrian Affairs

SadaNews - Syrian Foreign Minister, Asaad Al-Shaybani, stated on Saturday that "the Syrian state has adopted a realistic approach toward Israel, and has said since the first day that it wants to focus on the reconstruction of the country and reunifying Syrians to enter a state of recovery leading to development. This policy may not have sat well with Israel, as it seeks side conflicts in the region."

During his participation in the Munich Security Conference, he spoke about the ongoing direct negotiations with Israel mediated by Washington, saying, "The negotiations have certainly not reached a point of imposing acceptance of the reality created by Israel in southern Syria. The end of these negotiations will be marked by Israel's withdrawal from the areas it penetrated after December 8, 2024, ceasing interference in Syrian affairs, refraining from violating our airspace, and not intervening in Syrian sovereignty."

Al-Shaybani pointed out that "lifting sanctions on Syria is the key to reconstruction, as displacement camps still exist in the country, and a large number of Syrian refugees remain abroad. Since the beginning of the first year, we have been keen to redefine the new Syria as one that seeks to cooperate and interact with everyone."

He clarified that "Syrians are concerned about Israeli practices towards their country, as after December 8, 2024, Syria was bombed with more than a thousand airstrikes, and new territories were also occupied in southern Syria, along with arrests and over 500 ground incursions."

He added, "This year, with all its achievements, was not without challenges. We worked on rebuilding the state and building trust between the government and the people. For 14 years, the fallen regime entrenched a state of division, and after the success of the revolution, the idea of putting arms in the hands of the state was solidified."

Al-Shaybani mentioned, "We live in a country exhausted from war, and weary from the mismanagement inherited from the fallen regime, and the Syrian society is torn between the inside and the outside, facing humanitarian difficulties and infrastructure challenges."

He pointed out that "what we rely on is the Syrian people, who have a strong will and ambition. We have benefited from the experiences of the region, whether correct or incorrect," expressing a feeling of "satisfaction with the achievements we have made, yet we strive to offer the best for our people and will not tire or falter, and we will work tirelessly to build the Syria we aspire to alongside our people."

Al-Shaybani emphasized that "the Syrian state has not shirked its responsibility regarding what happened in Sweida and other areas; the national interest and the interest of the people are supreme. "

He explained that "the diversity present in Syria is a source of strength for it, and we have interests that we must agree upon, including the unity of Syrian territory and its integrity, and we work under the rule of law. This path requires a political culture."