A US delegation visiting Damascus had a “positive” meeting today with the new Syrian leader, Ahmad al-Shareh, whose nom de guerre was Abu Mohammed al-Golani, a source close to the new Syrian authorities told AFP.
“The meeting took place and was positive. And the results will be positive,” the official said.
It was the first contact between the US and the new Syrian leaders, who took power after the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad on December 8.
The US delegation said earlier today that a press conference in Damascus had been cancelled due to security concerns.
The leader of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Ahmed al-Sharaa, stated on Wednesday in an interview with Turkish media that Syria will develop strategic relations with Turkey in the future.
Sharaa, better known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Julani, said that Syrians who found refuge in Turkey were treated better there than anywhere else.
“I hope that Syria will not forget this kindness. There will be strategic relations. Turkey has many priorities in rebuilding the new Syrian state. There will also be mutual trade relations. We trust Turkey when it comes to transferring its experience in economic development to Syria,” the HTS leader stated.
Sharaa added that the success of the revolution in Syria is also a reason for celebration for the Turkish people.
“This victory is not only the victory of the Syrian people but also of the Turkish people,” Sharaa said.
Turkey hosts nearly three million Syrian refugees, but Turkish officials claim that the total number of Syrians who have stayed in the country at some point is closer to five million.
Ankara believes that the new Syrian government must cooperate with all regional countries, including those in the Gulf, where skepticism towards Islamic-oriented movements is very pronounced.
When asked whether he intends to spread the revolution to other Islamic countries, Sharaa said that his movement has no right to interfere in the affairs of other nations.
“We have no intention of taking on tasks beyond our capabilities, such as solving all the problems of the Islamic world, which would divert us from our primary responsibility to our own people. We will strive to establish and develop relations with all countries in a way that benefits our nation,” Sharaa said.
He said HTS should be de-listed as a terrorist organization. It is designated as one by the UN, US, EU and UK.
Sharaa denied that he wanted to turn Syria into a version of Afghanistan, saying the two countries were very different, with different traditions. Afghanistan was a tribal society. In Syria, he said, there was a different mindset.
He also told the BCC that he believed in education for women.
“We’ve had universities in Idlib for more than eight years,” Sharaa said, referring to Syria’s northwestern province that has been held by opposition fighters since 2011.
“I think the percentage of women in universities is more than 60%.”
