Damascus, Jan. 14 (SANA) President Ahmad al-Sharaa affirmed that the injustices witnessed in Syria during the decades of the deposed regime’s rule affected all segments of the Syrian population without exception.
The President stressed that the post-liberation period represents a new beginning based on equal citizenship, the rule of law, and the building of state institutions. This ensures the constitutional rights of all Syrians, preserves the unity of Syrian territory, and strengthens stability and development.
President al-Sharaa stated, in an interview with “Shams” TV, that the injustices that occurred over more than 60 years affected various components of Syrian society, including the Kurdish community. He emphasized that the blessed Syrian revolution saw active participation from Syrians of all affiliations, including a positive contribution from the Kurdish people.
Injustices of the Deposed Regime Affected All Syrians
President al-Sharaa added that liberation represented the first real response to the injustices faced by the Kurdish people and other segments of Syrian society. It involved the dismantling of a criminal regime that practised discriminatory and selective policies, including the denial of citizenship and civil rights to certain Kurdish groups.
The President clarified that the downfall of the deposed regime was a crucial step in restoring Kurdish rights and the rights of other Syrians. He noted that some injustices affected everyone during the years of the revolution due to the actions of uncontrolled or undisciplined parties. He stressed that he did his utmost to protect civilians and the Kurdish community, as testified by the people of those regions.
President al-Sharaa explained that the deposed regime relied on fueling sectarian and ethnic conflicts, deepening social division, and leaving behind residues of mistrust. He stressed that the liberation of Syria opened the door to a new phase based on equal citizenship, the rule of law, fair distribution of wealth, and the freedom to demand rights through legal and institutional frameworks. Building this system requires stability and calm.
What Happened in Aleppo Was Preserving Security and Stability
The President pointed out that the Syrian state dealt with the liberation operations with a sense of responsibility, taking into account the humanitarian aspect despite the military nature of the battles. He explained that what happened in Aleppo, especially in the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, was in the context of maintaining security and stability, protecting the Syrian economy’s lifeblood, and enforcing the law after repeated attacks on residential areas and threats to security. He confirmed that the operation was successful and carried out with the least possible cost, while ensuring safe passage for civilians.
President al-Sharaa said: “In our first meeting, about a month and a half after our arrival in Damascus, or even less, I met with Mazloum Abdi and told him: ‘if you are fighting for Kurdish rights, you don’t need to shed a drop of blood because Kurdish rights will be guaranteed by the constitution.’
The President emphasized that the Kurdish component participated in the blessed Syrian revolution and was part of it. Therefore, it is not accurate to claim that the Kurdish community is solely represented by the SDF organiazation, in addition to the internal disputes and their lack of consensus on the ideology of the SDF organization.
March 10 Agreement Preserves National Unity
President al-Sharaa explained that the state engaged in understandings with the SDF organization based on the principle of dialogue and avoiding bloodshed. He underlined that the March 10 agreement clearly stated the protection of the Kurdish community’s constitutional rights, respect for their cultural identity, the extension of state sovereignty over all Syrian territories, and the severing of external links that do not serve Syria’s interests. He noted that the agreement had broad regional and international approval.
He noted that the agreement represented an unprecedented breakthrough in the issue of northeastern Syria, but its practical implementation has not seen tangible progress. He stressed that the protection of the Kurdish community is not through cross-border armed groups but through full integration into the new Syrian state and participation in its political and military institutions. He emphasized that rights are guaranteed by the constitution and do not require bloodshed, and that competence, not quotas, should be the standard for participation.
President al-Sharaa pointed out that the Syrian state is committed to the 10th of March agreement and calls for its implementation in a way that serves the interests of all Syrians. He emphasized that options remain open for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) organization to integrate and participate in building the state, stressing that Syria’s unity and the rule of law form the foundation for both its stability and the stability of the entire region.
SDF Failed to Implement the 10th March Agreement
President al-Sharaa explained that the agreement with the SDF organization called for the withdrawal of military forces from the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, while keeping a limited number of security personnel, affiliated with the Ministry of Interior and from the neighborhood itself, to manage its security in coordination with state institutions. He confirmed that the withdrawal did not occur as agreed, in addition to repeated violations, including renewed clashes and shelling of neighboring residential areas, which negatively affected the stability in Aleppo.
President al-Sharaa said that the state dealt with the file as part of the comprehensive solution related to the SDF organization in northeastern Syria, noting that the multiplicity of decision-making centers within the organization and its connection to entities outside the borders prevented the implementation of the signed agreements, as the military and security character dominates its decisions.
The State Has not Closed the Door to Participation in Building the State for Anyone
President al-Sharaa affirmed that the protection of the Kurdish component cannot be achieved through armed groups crossing borders, or by militarizing residential areas and digging tunnels within them. Rather, it must occur through full integration into the new Syrian state and participation in its political, military, and security institutions. He assured that the Syrian state forms the unifying framework and the true guarantor of the rights of all its citizens.
He pointed out that the Kurdish component has historically been integrated into Syrian society, participating in political, educational, and administrative life. He noted the Kurdish representation in the Syrian government and offered participation in parliament and sovereign institutions. He affirmed that the state has not closed the door to participation for anyone; rather, the absence of such participation was due to decisions made by the SDF of their own volition.
President al-Sharaa stressed that the operation in Sheikh Maqsoud was carried out after over 90% of the civilians had been evacuated, with safe corridors secured in accordance with international laws and at the lowest possible cost. He noted that some armed groups prevented civilians from leaving and used civilian facilities, including hospitals, for military purposes, despite international mediations that the Syrian state had accepted.
The President explained that the state dealt with the file responsibly, ensuring that civilian lives were not put at risk. He affirmed that the actions taken were necessary to protect the city of Aleppo and its residents and to prevent the continuation of shelling and attacks on neighbouring areas.
Regarding northeastern Syria, President al-Sharaa stated that this region holds most of Syria’s national wealth, including oil, gas, agriculture, water, and energy. He noted that the continued control of the SDF over this region deprived the Syrian state of its resources, causing significant damage to the national economy and hindering reconstruction efforts, despite the urgent need for these resources to improve citizens’ living conditions.
The Syrian State Does not Threaten Anyone
The President stressed that the Syrian state does not threaten anyone but rather presents the facts and offers advice that serves the public interest. He added that the presence of armed groups outside the state’s authority threatens national and regional stability and negatively affects neighbouring countries. He also affirmed that the Iraqi experience cannot be compared to the Syrian situation, given the significant differences in geography, political context, and historical circumstances.
President al-Sharaa concluded by reaffirming that the Syrian state is committed to protecting civilians and holding any violations accountable under the law. He called for prioritizing reason and wisdom, ending the appearance of uncontrolled weapons, and working together to build a strong and just state that guarantees the rights and dignity of all its citizens, opening a new chapter of peace and development for all Syrians after many years of suffering.
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