Al-Sharaa from London: Syria will remain out of the war circle unless directly targeted

SadaNews - Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa confirmed that Syria is moving steadily towards holding free elections after completing the first term, which is stipulated in the constitutional declaration for a period of 5 years.

Al-Sharaa said during an extensive dialogue at Chatham House in the British capital, London, "We held a National Dialogue Conference that resulted in recommendations, and we announced the new constitution that regulates the transitional period, and the People's Assembly will hold its first sessions next month."

Regarding the formation of political parties, the Syrian president clarified that the laws concerning parties will be re-drafted within the new constitution, affirming that the process will allow for the participation of parties in government and authority.

Concerning personal freedoms, Al-Sharaa emphasized that the state's administration relies on existing laws, and that new standards regarding social and religious practices would not be imposed on citizens. He said, "Our mission is to apply the law, not to impose new standards on people."

The Syrian president discussed the state's policy towards armed factions, pointing out that Syria has restricted weapons to the state, and that agreements were reached to integrate the Syrian Democratic Forces into the Syrian army.

He explained that this approach came after a series of negotiations and understandings with the United States and the concerned countries to ensure the state's unity and avoid military confrontation.

Position on the War Against Iran

Al-Sharaa addressed the American-Israeli war against Iran, confirming that Syria will remain outside the circle of conflict unless directly targeted, stressing the importance of negotiated solutions to avoid regional risks. He affirmed that Syria's policy is based on economic stability and development, while maintaining balanced diplomatic relations with countries in the region and the world.

He clarified that indirect and direct negotiations took place with Israel, but they have not yet reached a final agreement, while affirming that the Syrian state protects its borders from arms smuggling, including preventing Iranian weapons from reaching Hezbollah in Lebanon. He added that Russian bases in Syria will gradually be transformed into training centers for the Syrian army.

Regarding transitional justice, Al-Sharaa stressed the necessity of having a clear legal judicial institution to hold accountable those responsible for past crimes, while considering credibility and fairness to avoid any revenge or selective targeting.

He added that Syria has begun the voluntary return of refugees, with more than 1.3 million people returning in the past year, focusing on linking return with reconstruction and job creation.

He confirmed that presenting investment opportunities to European companies, especially German ones, will contribute to the reintegration of refugees into the national economy, indicating that this would enable about 80% of Syrian refugees to return in the coming years.

The Political and Social Future

At the end of the dialogue, Al-Sharaa expressed his ambition to build a stable democratic state capable of playing an active role in the region, with a focus on security, development, and justice.

Earlier on Tuesday, Al-Sharaa discussed with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer ways to strengthen bilateral relations and regional developments.

Al-Sharaa began an official visit to Britain at dawn today, the first since he assumed office in January 2025, during which he seeks to develop bilateral relations and enhance cooperation between the two countries.

Syrian-British relations resumed after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, where Al-Sharaa received British Foreign Secretary David Lammy in Damascus on July 5, 2025.

Syria reopened its embassy in London in November 2025 after a closure of 13 years, during an official visit by Foreign Minister As'ad Al-Sheibani to Britain.

London is the second and final stop on a European tour that Al-Sharaa started on Sunday with a visit to Berlin, where he met on Monday with senior German officials to discuss ways to develop bilateral relations and enhance cooperation in various fields.

Source: Al-Jazeera