Translated from the transcript
“In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The Syrian story is one of turmoil where emotions are mixed with pain and hope.
The Syrian story is one of conflict between good and evil, and between the weak-truth that has no supporter except God (in other words: spiritually strong but outwardly unsupported—editor’s comment), and the powerful falsehood that possesses all the tools of killing and destruction.
Our story is a reflection of history and a true representation of noble human values.
In this eternal battle between truth and falsehood, The Syrian story is told to narrate a new chapter in the chapters of this conflict, a bright and great chapter full of creativity, confrontation, determination, sacrifice, redemption, adherence to noble values and good customs, serious preparation, and diligent work and then reliance on God.
All of these are tools that help the truth prevail over falsehood.
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Now then, Madam President of the General Assembly, Mr. Secretary-General, Your Majesties, Excellencies, Your Highnesses, Your Honors, Ladies and gentlemen, delegates, peace be upon you. May God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.
I have come to you from Damascus, the capital of history and the cradle of civilizations, that beautiful country which taught the world the meaning of civilization and human values. Peaceful coexistence to become a beacon. The world follows its example, except Syria, which for 60 years has fallen under the rule of an unjust and oppressive regime that ignores the values of the land it rules and oppresses its friendly and peaceful people.
Our people have endured for many years injustice, oppression, and deprivation, then the people rose up calling for their freedom and dignity, only to be met with murder, torture, burning, rape, and displacement.
The former regime used in its war against our people the most horrific instruments of torture and killing: explosive barrels, chemical weapons, field executions, torture in prisons, forced displacement, and the stirring up of sectarian and ethnic strife. It used drugs as a weapon against the people and the world, tearing our country apart and destroying its most important historical sites, bringing in foreign forces, militias, and gangs from the ends of the earth to hold our beautiful country hostage.
The former regime killed nearly a million people tortured hundreds of thousands, and displaced around 14 million people. It destroyed nearly two million homes over the heads of their inhabitants, ladies and gentlemen.
It targeted the weak with chemical weapons in more than 200 documented attacks. Yes. Our children, our women, and our youth have inhaled poisonous gases. The regime has done all this to silence the voice of truth. With all this criminality, it has ended any political language for a solution, despite what was offered to it.
This people had no choice but to organize their ranks and prepare for the great historical confrontation in a swift military operation that brought down a criminal regime that had lasted for 60 years with all its supporters.
A military operation was full of mercy, goodness, and forgiveness. A military battle that did not cause displacement or civilian deaths. It led to victory after victory, without any hostility, and the people regained their rights and triumphed over injustice.
Yes, we have triumphed in the battle of the oppressed, the tortured, and the displaced.
We have won for the mothers of the martyrs.
We have won for the missing.
We have won for all of you, O world.
We have won for the future of our children and yours, and we have paved the way for refugees to return to their homes, and we destroyed the drug trade that was moving from our country to your countries during the previous regime, and we have transformed Syria with this victory from a country ruled by crises to a historic opportunity for stability and peace and prosperity for Syria and the entire region.
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Ladies and gentlemen.
The popular solidarity that has emerged has pushed the parties for attempting to stir up sectarian strife and internal fighting in pursuit of partition plans and tearing the country apart once again, except that the Syrian people had enough awareness to prevent continued disasters and Syria’s return to square one. The Syrian state worked to form fact-finding committees and granted the United Nations permission to investigate as well, concluding with similar results with unprecedented transparency in Syria, and I pledge to bring to justice all those who have stained their hands with the blood of innocents.
In the same context, Israeli threats against our country have not ceased since December 8 until today. Israeli policies are contrary to the international position supporting Syria and its people in an attempt to exploit the transitional phase which exposes the region to entering into a cycle of new conflicts that no one knows where they will end.
In light of this, Syria is using dialogue and diplomacy to overcome this crisis and pledges its commitment to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and calls on the international community to stand by its side in confronting these dangers and respecting the sovereignty of Syrian territory.
Ladies and gentlemen, from the moment the previous regime fell, we established a clear policy with clear objectives based on several pillars of diplomacy balance, security, and development, economic development.
We have worked to fill the power vacuum and called for an inclusive national dialogue. We announced a competent government and reinforced the principle of participation.
We established a national justice body: transitional justice and another for the missing, with fairness and justice for those who have been wronged. And here we are, moving forward with elections for the people’s representatives in the Legislative Council, and we have restored the structure of civilian and military institutions by dissolving all previous formations under the principle of restricting weapons to the state.
Through intensive diplomatic activity, Syria has restored its international relations and established regional and global partnerships, leading to the gradual lifting of most sanctions against Syria. We demand that they be lifted completely so that they are not used as a tool to shackle the Syrian people and deprive them of their freedom once again.
It has amended investment laws and major regional and international companies have begun to enter the Syrian market and contribute through investment to the restoration of reconstruction.
Syria today is rebuilding itself by establishing a new state through the creation of institutions and laws that guarantee the rights of all without exception.
Syria is a country with a civilization and historical culture that deserves a state of law that protects everyone, safeguards rights, guarantees freedoms, and flourishes under its shadow.
Life turns the page on the miserable past. Let us restore Syria’s glory, pride, and dignity.
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To complete the Syrian story, I announce today before you the victory of truth over falsehood, and say,
“Truth has come and falsehood has perished, for falsehood was bound to perish.” (a quote)
Today, Syria is returning to its rightful place among the nations of the world.
This announcement represents the will of a great people. It has forged glory throughout the ages, and it has always risen from under the rubble to reclaim its rights, freedom, and dignity.
On behalf of the Syrian people, I extend my thanks and gratitude to all those who stood with the Syrian people’s cause, helped them in their suffering, and welcomed them into their countries; All the countries of the world and their peoples who rejoiced in the victory of the Syrian people and stand by them today in their march toward peace and prosperity. I extend my special thanks to Turkey, Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and all Arab and Islamic countries and the United States. The United States, the European Union, and before.
In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that the pain that Syria has experienced is something we would not wish on anyone, as we are among the peoples who feel the magnitude of the suffering caused by war and destruction, and that is why we support the people of Gaza [Applause] its children and women and all other peoples who are subjected to violations and aggression, and we call for an immediate end to the war.
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The Syrian story is not over yet.
It continues to write a new chapter in its history.
Its title is prosperity, development, and peace.
May God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.”
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