Syrian President: Golan will remain Syrian land
New York, 23 Sep (KUNA) -- Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa affirmed on Wednesday that the Golan Heights will remain Syrian territory and that all annexation measures are "null and void" pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 497, reiterating his country's rejection of Israeli encroachments and attempts to impose a fait accompli in the region.
In a speech delivered during the high-level general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, al-Sharaa expressed Syria's commitment to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement between the forces, noting that the "historic opportunity for peace remains available to those who wish to live in a just peace that safeguards the rights of all."
He stated that Syria is rising today in a tangible manner, driven by the will of its people and the independence of its decision-making, and is beginning to regain its "place among nations and states" through the diplomatic bridges it has built.
Al-Sharaa added that Syria has "unified from north to south," confined weapons, and rebuilt its security institutions, while sanctions have been lifted and reconstruction, investment, transitional justice, and efforts to uncover the fate of the missing have been launched.
He pointed out that his country is waging an open war against transnational crime networks, including drug and human trafficking.
In the same context, the Syrian President noted the return of more than three and a half million displaced persons and refugees to the country in a "voluntary and dignified" manner, viewing this as a shift from a "crisis tossed around by states to an opportunity for good that brings states together."
Regarding the chemical weapons file, al-Sharaa said that Syria has destroyed 42 chemical bombs and has fully restored its rights within the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
He continued that Syria is working with the International Atomic Energy Agency "with the highest degree of transparency," based on the belief that collective security is a trust and that the strict implementation of treaties serves to fortify the world against threats.
He affirmed that his country is moving forward in rebuilding itself and restoring its dignity and honor, stating, "We came to you in the 80th session to announce our return, and today we stand in the 81st session to demonstrate the reality of progress and rise."
In conclusion, the Syrian President expressed his hope that the next session will yield the "fruits of a strategic partnership," which his country is committed to establishing as an international actor contributing to prosperity and as a regional model supporting stability.
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