Cairo, Sept. 07 (SANA) Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani outlined Syria’s priorities on sovereignty, national recovery and regional diplomacy during a meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the 166th ministerial session of the Arab League on Monday, stressing the need for greater Arab unity at a critical regional moment.
“We meet today under the unifying umbrella of Arab identity at a moment that requires us to close ranks and unify our visions,” al-Shaibani said during the meeting.
He said Syria had returned to its place among its Arab partners as a source of support rather than a burden, linking the country’s recovery to rebuilding state institutions, restoring sovereignty and strengthening cooperation with Arab states.
State sovereignty and exclusive control of arms
Al-Shaibani said exclusive state control of arms was central to Syria’s approach to security and reconstruction.
“Exclusive control of arms is a deterrent decision and an absolute sovereign right of the state, so that we can protect all Syrians and build together,” he said.
To protect Syria’s recovery, al-Shaibani said armed factions had been integrated and the national army rebuilt on the principle that arms should be exclusively under state control.
He said Syria had restructured its national institutions so they could focus on protecting the country’s borders and extending state sovereignty.
Al-Shaibani said Syrians had begun moving the country from war and destruction toward reconstruction and development, while establishing justice, unifying the country and defeating separatist projects.
He said Syrians, under the leadership of President Ahmad al-Sharaa, had achieved pivotal transformations over the past 20 months.
Recovery, education and Arab cooperation
Al-Shaibani said Syria was proceeding with a three-part road map developed with Jordan and was laying the foundations for domestic renewal based on parliament and the restoration of the people’s independent decision-making.
He said Syria’s achievements should be viewed as a foundation not only for its own recovery but for broader Arab advancement.
“Syria, which is recovering today, preserves its gratitude to everyone who stood by it and affirms that its achievements are a blessing for it and its brothers,” he said.
Al-Shaibani said hundreds of thousands of Syrian children and young people had returned from camps to schools and universities, while work was underway to restore educational institutions.
He said Damascus hoped Syria would be included in Arab funds and programs during 2027 to support the country’s recovery.
Al-Shaibani said Syria expected its rebuilding process to develop significantly in the coming years, describing the goal as the emergence of a Syrian success story that will become a source of pride.
Regional security and diplomacy
Turning to regional developments, al-Shaibani said Syria had declared its solidarity with Gulf Arab states and Jordan since the beginning the U.S.-Israeli-Iranian war.
He rejected Iranian attacks on their territories and the use of weapons outside the framework of the state.
At the same time, al-Shaibani said Syria remained committed to a diplomatic solution and was working to achieve one.
“We remain committed to the option of a diplomatic solution and are working hard to achieve it, while working to end Israeli attacks, arrests and incursions,” he said.
Al-Shaibani expressed appreciation for the Arab League’s condemnation of Colombia’s decision to recognize the annexation of the Golan by what he described as the Israeli occupation entity.
The foreign minister framed Syria’s domestic recovery and restoration of state sovereignty as part of a broader Arab interest, telling his counterparts that closer coordination and unified positions were needed to address regional challenges.
T.S /Ruaa
