Syrian President to Address UN for the First Time in 58 Years
Pursuing Reconstruction with a Moderate, Legitimate Government Agenda
Ahmed Alshara, the acting president of Syria and a former rebel, will deliver a speech at the United Nations next month, AFP reported on August 25 (local time).
An official from the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "President Alshara will attend and speak at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA." This will be the first time since 1967 that a Syrian president takes the podium at the UN General Assembly.
President Alshara's attendance at the UN General Assembly is drawing particular attention because the group he once led, HTS, originated from the extremist militant organization 'Al-Nusra Front,' which was initially formed in connection with Al-Qaeda. However, HTS has claimed to have severed ties with Al-Qaeda since 2016, and since taking office, President Alshara has deliberately distanced himself from Islamic symbols by appearing in public wearing Western-style attire such as suits and ties.
Previously, U.S. President Donald Trump ushered in a dramatic shift in diplomatic relations with Syria while promoting the 'Abraham Accords,' an initiative to expand normalization between Israel and Arab countries in the Middle East. During his Middle East tour last May, President Trump met directly with President Alshara, describing him as a "young, charming tough guy," and stated that the U.S. was seeking to normalize relations with Syria's new government.
Meanwhile, President Alshara was designated as a terrorist by the U.S. government in 2013, with a large bounty placed on him. As a result, he has been subject to UN sanctions and a travel ban, requiring special exemption approval for overseas trips. In fact, when he visited Paris, France last May at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron, a special exemption was granted.
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