Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said nearly 100 countries have opened channels of communication with Syria through about 4,000 interactions, meetings, and calls, while Damascus has become home to around 60 diplomatic missions and foreign delegations have begun arriving as Syria seeks to restore its place among nations.
Speaking before the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, September 23, al-Sharaa said Syria had begun its recovery and was turning it into tangible progress by building partnerships from a firm foundation of sovereignty. He said the process was focused on the welfare and future of the Syrian people and rebuilding a country emerging from war, based on the will of the people, national sovereignty, and independent decision making.
He said the Syrian government launched the “Breaths of Freedom” team from seven countries to address the country’s chemical legacy, adding that 42 chemical munitions had been destroyed and Syria had regained its full rights within the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
Damascus is also working with the International Atomic Energy Agency with the highest degree of transparency, al-Sharaa said, based on what he described as a belief that collective action is a responsibility.
On efforts against drug trafficking networks, the Syrian president said authorities had seized about 700 million Captagon pills and dismantled 90 international networks, while also combating human trafficking and crime. He described Syria’s borders as having become “a solid shield against these crimes.”
Al-Sharaa said these steps had helped bring down the walls of isolation, citing the repeal of the Caesar Act, the gradual lifting of European and British sanctions, and the restoration of a cooperation agreement with the European Union. He also said the chapter of Syria being designated a state sponsor of terrorism had been closed, marking the end of 47 years of isolation.
Al-Sharaa said Syria’s recovery had also contributed to the return of 3.5 million internally displaced people and refugees.
Golan Is Syrian Territory
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said the Golan Heights would remain Syrian territory and that all annexation measures were null and void under UN Security Council Resolution 497.
He said Syria’s national principles were becoming more firmly established through the force of law and the will of the people, stressing that attempts to impose a new reality could not undermine the legitimacy of the state.
Al-Sharaa said Israel, in what he described as its “aberrant” conduct, had attacked Syria with nearly 500 air and artillery strikes, carried out more than 1,200 incursions, and conducted around 300 arrests and detentions of Syrians. He warned that Israeli actions threatened Syria’s stability and ran counter to the international community’s approach.
Al-Sharaa reiterated Syria’s commitment to the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement and called for Israeli forces to withdraw to the lines of December 8, 2024.
Second Participation
The Syrian president’s current participation in the United Nations General Assembly meetings marks his second appearance, following his participation in last year’s session.
In his speech last year, al-Sharaa said that “Syria prevailed for the entire world when it brought down a system of criminality that had lasted for 60 years, transforming from a country that exported crises into a historic opportunity to bring stability, peace, and prosperity to the entire region.”
The United Nations General Assembly meetings are the organization’s most prominent annual diplomatic event, bringing together leaders and representatives of 193 member states at UN headquarters in New York to discuss shared global challenges.
The General Assembly is the UN’s main forum for deliberation and policymaking, with all member states holding an equal vote.
Its annual regular session usually begins on the Tuesday of the third week of September, with large numbers of heads of state and government taking turns delivering speeches.
The meeting focuses on international crises, regional conflicts, sustainable development, and climate issues.
The General Assembly issues recommendations and resolutions reflecting the positions of the international community, although they are not legally binding. The gathering also provides a platform for bilateral meetings and intensive negotiations among diplomats and world leaders.