President Ahmad al-Sharaa stated that reconstructing Syria is a top priority for the state, estimating the cost to be between $600 and $900 billion, and emphasized the need for support from the international community.
In an interview with the program “60 Minutes” on the American network CBS News, President al-Sharaa said: “The world watched this tragedy unfold for 14 years and couldn’t do anything to stop this massive crime.” “So, the world today should provide support to Syria,” he added.
President al-Sharaa pointed out that’ ”international economic sanctions imposed on Syria are hindering reconstruction efforts” and have to be lifted to give people hope for rebuilding and returning to their homes.
“Anyone who obstructs the lifting of sanctions on Syria is an accomplice to those who committed this crime,” the president said.
He emphasized that Syria deserves living in peace and security, which will serve the region and the world. “Syria deserves to live in peace and security, and the world will benefit from Syria’s new situation,” President al-Sharaa said. “It is a great historical opportunity for the region,” he added.
President al-Sharaa said that ”entire generations of Syrians have suffered severe psychological trauma” as a result of the war waged by the former regime, during which more than one million Syrians were killed, large areas and infrastructure were destroyed, and millions were displaced.
The president clarified that ”the government intends to use legal means to pursue justice” against Bashar Assad, who is living in Moscow since fleeing Syria.
Regarding the events in the coastal region and Sweida, the President said that “This is a Syrian internal matter that should be resolved legally by Syrian authorities,” pledging the state’s commitment to prosecuting those involved. “I believe that Syria is committed to prosecuting anyone who committed crimes against civilians, of any party or side,” he added.
On the issue of repeated Israeli attacks on Syria, President Al-Sharaa stated that ”Syria doesn’t pose any threat to anyone” describing the Israeli attacks on the presidential palace as “a declaration of war”.
“To target the palace to convey a message, that’s not a message, that’s a declaration of war,” the president said, adding that Syria “doesn’t want to engage in wars, and it doesn’t want to be a threat to Israel or anyone else,” calling on Israel to withdraw from Syrian territories it occupied after December 8.
President al-Sharaa clarified that ”the operations carried out by “Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham” prior to liberation were aimed solely at overthrowing the Assad regime, and that the group did not conduct operations outside Syrian territory nor did it target anyone other than regime forces.”
The president reiterated that he had severed ties with both “ISIS” and “al-Qaeda”, saying: “If I had agreed with them, I wouldn’t have left them.”
Responding to a question about entering the presidential palace for the first time, President al-Sharaa said: “Entering this palace wasn’t a very positive experience ..Much evil towards the Syrian people came out of this palace.”
President al-Sharaa stated that ”general elections will be held once infrastructure has been rebuilt and citizens have obtained identity cards and official documents.” He stressed that he wanted Syria to be a place where every person gets a vote affirming his belief in the resilience and strength of the Syrian people, who are capable of rising again.
