Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa affirmed that any recognition by any country of Israel’s claim to the occupied Syrian Golan is invalid, stressing that the international community recognizes the Golan as Syrian territory occupied by Israel.
Speaking on Friday during a dialogue session at the fifth Antalya Forum in Turkey, held under the theme “Addressing Uncertainty While Shaping the Future,” Al-Sharaa said the region is going through difficult circumstances that require exceptional solutions. He added that Syria is bearing its responsibilities and confronting challenges with the resilience of its people and the support of friendly countries in the region.
He reiterated that any recognition of Israel’s claim to the occupied Syrian Golan is invalid, emphasizing that the international community considers it occupied Syrian land.
Al-Sharaa noted that the conflict in the region is not recent but deeply rooted in history. He said Syria is avoiding alignment with one country against another and seeks to act as a bridge between major powers. He added that Syria currently maintains strong relations with the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and countries in the region.
He stated that Syria had been subjected to Iranian actions in the past, as Tehran supported the “former regime” in confronting the Syrian people. Despite this, Syria did not engage in the confrontation between Iran, the United States, and Israel. Before the war, Syria had worked to prevent its outbreak, warning it would have serious repercussions for the region.
Al-Sharaa stressed that Syria is working toward regional stability, resolving issues through dialogue and diplomacy, and avoiding conflicts.
He added: “We are writing a new chapter in Syria’s history—transforming it from a mailbox for conflicts into a significant opportunity for sustainable investment.”
He also praised U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to end the war in Lebanon, expressing hope for a transition toward correcting regional paths to prevent future wars.
He pointed out that Syria has endured years of hardship, with its people facing displacement, migration, chemical attacks, and widespread destruction. Avoiding further conflict now, he said, is the natural and correct path.
Al-Sharaa stated that Israel is violating the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, adding that Syria is working to reach a security agreement that ensures Israel’s withdrawal from territories it occupied after the fall of the former regime on December 8, 2024, and a return to the 1974 lines. He noted efforts to establish new arrangements, either by reinstating the disengagement agreement or negotiating a new one that guarantees security for both sides.
He also referred to ongoing efforts to implement the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces into state institutions, emphasizing that all parties are working toward the unity and stability of Syrian territory, and that northeastern Syria is now free of foreign bases.
Al-Sharaa added that Syria has adopted a reconstruction approach based on encouraging investment to improve the economy, stressing reliance on domestic capabilities first. He noted that any external aid should not be politicized or tied to conditions.
He concluded: “We have moved Syria from a state of conflict to a safe and stable environment that represents an investment opportunity, and it has also helped protect the region by preventing the expansion of certain regional powers or the use of its territory as a platform for launching attacks and destabilizing the region.”
