Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said on Thursday that the Syrian government is seeking to avoid escalation with Israel and is responding to its ongoing violations through diplomatic channels.
Speaking at a dialogue session at Chatham House in London, which he arrived in on Wednesday, al-Shaibani added that his country "does not want to be a party to any proxy war and seeks to focus on internal affairs and avoid involvement in regional conflicts."
Syria's top diplomat explained that Syria "is working on reconstruction and views any potential agreement with Israel within this framework," noting that "Israel is playing a negative role in Syria and is dissatisfied with the changes that have taken place," according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
Al-Shaibani's visit to Britain comes as part of Syrian efforts to end Damascus's international isolation, imposed by the policies of the previous regime, and to explore opening official channels of communication with major Western powers.
The visit is particularly significant as it comes just days after President Ahmed al-Sharaa's visit to Washington and his meeting with his American counterpart, Donald Trump, a move considered by observers to be a major shift in Syrian-American relations.
Al-Shaibani affirmed that his visit to Washington was "very successful and focused on all issues," adding that "relations with the United States are progressing very well." He predicted that the Caesar Act would be fully lifted by the end of this year.
He stated that lifting the sanctions "will open the door to broad investment opportunities in all sectors," noting that Washington had partially suspended the sanctions for 180 days to demonstrate its commitment to easing pressure on Syria.
Earlier on Thursday, Damascus reopened its embassy in London after a 13-year closure, coinciding with al-Shaibani's official visit.
The minister explained that the move aims to "serve the interests of the Syrian people and strengthen communication with the international community," emphasizing that "Syria is no longer a marginal state but has become important to all countries of the world."
Regarding relations with Moscow, al-Shaibani said that his country "is building realistic relations with Russia and does not want to be the dominant power in Syria as it was in the past, but at the same time, it is not seeking to antagonize it," stressing Damascus's desire to "establish balanced partnerships with everyone without aligning with any particular power."
On the domestic front, Al-Shaibani emphasized the government's commitment to the transitional process and building a modern, civil state, adding, "We are working to provide a healthy political climate that guarantees the participation of all, and Syria is on the verge of presidential and parliamentary elections that will include all Syrians."
Al-Shaibani addressed the events that took place in the governorates of As-Suwayda and the coast, explaining that they had "different contexts and posed significant challenges to the government."
He said, "The events on the coast were instigated by remnants of the former regime, and we do not accept the transgressions that were committed," noting that the government "sent 70 aid convoys to As-Suwayda to support the residents there."
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