Al-Sharaa From Turkey: Syrian Parliament to Hold Its First Session at the End of April

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa said the first session of Syria’s newly elected parliament, the People’s Assembly, will be held by the end of April.

He said the assembly’s agenda will include drafting the constitution, which will contain a wide range of legislation to be put to a vote, including details of the phase that will follow the five-year transitional period.

Speaking during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, ADF2026, on Friday, April 17, al-Sharaa said Syria’s leadership after the “liberation” had been clear about the steps it wanted to pursue during the current transitional phase.

Those steps, according to al-Sharaa, include the constitutional declaration, filling the political and power vacuum, electing parliament, drafting the constitution, then moving on to build a suitable economic structure, preparing the investment and business climate, and strengthening international and regional ties.

Al-Sharaa added that work is underway to re-document what happened and to reinforce the country’s unity after years of internal division.

He also said Syria has not yet received direct aid, despite promises and understandings with several parties.

Recognition of Israel’s Claim to the Golan Is Invalid

President al-Sharaa said any state’s recognition of Israel’s claim to the occupied Syrian Golan is invalid, adding that the international community considers the Golan to be Syrian land occupied by Israel.

The Syrian president said Israel is violating the 1974 disengagement agreement, and that Syria is now working to reach a security agreement that would ensure Israel’s withdrawal from the territory it occupied after the fall of the regime on December 8, 2024, and its return to the 1974 lines.

He added that this would be done by setting new rules, either by reviving the disengagement agreement or by concluding a new agreement that guarantees the security of both sides.

Al-Sharaa said, “If reaching an agreement succeeds, Syria may engage in long-term negotiations to resolve the issue of the occupied Golan.”

In an interview with Turkey’s Anadolu Agency on April 16, al-Sharaa said Syria is serious about securing a kind of security agreement with Israel that preserves regional stability, while he is focused on presenting Syria as a hub for energy supplies and trade in the region.

He denied that talks with Israel had reached a dead end, but said they were proceeding with difficulty because of Israel’s insistence on maintaining a presence on Syrian territory.

Syria Avoids Entering the Conflict

On the Israeli-Iranian war, the Syrian president said Syria had been subjected to attacks by Iran in the previous phase, when Tehran supported the former regime in its confrontation with the Syrian people. Even so, he said, Syria has not become involved in the current confrontation between Iran, the United States, and Israel.

He added that Syria is pushing for regional stability, resolving problems through dialogue and diplomacy, and staying away from conflicts and wars.

Al-Sharaa also expressed appreciation for the efforts of US President Donald Trump to stop the war underway in Lebanon, and said he hopes the region can move into a phase of correcting its course so that wars do not recur.

According to his remarks, Syria has been exhausted over the past years, while Syrians have faced migration, displacement, and chemical weapons attacks, alongside widespread destruction. In that context, he said, Syria’s decision to avoid entering any conflict today is the natural and correct path.

From Conflict to a Safe Environment

Al-Sharaa said Syria has adopted a reconstruction approach based on encouraging investment to improve the economy. He added, “We are trying to rely on ourselves first and foremost, and if aid comes, it must not be politicized or tied to certain conditions.”

He said the authorities had moved Syria after the “liberation” out of a state of conflict and into a safe and stable environment that represents an investment opportunity. He added that this safe environment has also protected the region by preventing some regional states from expanding influence or using Syrian territory as a launchpad for attacks and destabilization.

He said Syria is now more stable and secure, and has become a focus of international attention, especially with regard to the safety of supply chains between East and West and energy supplies.

He explained that Syria has begun exporting some Iraqi oil shipments, while many countries are considering regional interconnection to export their products through Syrian territory. He added that the “Four Seas” project, which has been discussed recently, shows that Syria’s current geographic position is a practical investment opportunity.

Meetings on the Sidelines of the Antalya Forum

At his residence in Antalya, al-Sharaa met US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, in the presence of Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and General Intelligence Service chief Hussein al-Salama.

He also met Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin.

The two sides discussed ways to strengthen cooperation and joint coordination, in addition to developments in the region.

Al-Sharaa also met Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and the accompanying delegation, in the presence of Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and General Intelligence Service chief Hussein al-Salama.

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