Four years before new elections. For Syria’s new leader, Ahmad al-Shareh, organizing an electoral vote in the country could take up to four years. “The electoral process could take four years”said this Sunday evening, December 29, the leader of the radical Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which leads the coalition that overthrew Bashar al-Assad on December 8, during an interview with the Saudi channel Al-Arabiya . Before the organization of elections, it will be necessary to “rewrite the Constitution”a task that could take “two or three years”he declared.
In an interview where he addressed numerous subjects, the leader spared his neighbors, affirming that Syria “can’t” to do without «relations» with Iran, while judging that these should be based on a «respect» mutual sovereignty of the two countries. “Syria cannot continue without relations with a large country with regional weight like Iran, but these must be done on the basis of respect for the sovereignty of the two countries and without interference in internal affairs”at-il having you.
«Pays important»
Ahmad al-Chareh also highlighted the “deep strategic interests” that exist between Syria and Russia, expressing his desire to rebuild the relationship with the main ally of deposed President Bashar al-Assad. The latter also took refuge with his family in Moscow, after fleeing Syria. “Russia is an important country”said the new strongman of Syria, recalling that “all Syrian weapons are of Russian origin and many power plants are managed by Russian experts”. “We do not want Russia to leave Syria in the way that some would like”he added.
The coalition of rebels which ended the reign of Bashar al-Assad has until now remained quite vague about its intentions for the future of the country, other than assuring that all beliefs would be respected and that the country had to unite. In his interview, Ahmad al-Chareh also affirmed that the Kurdish forces will be integrated into the Syrian army. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led by the Kurds and supported by the United States, should be integrated into the future Syrian army, he said. “Weapons must only be in the hands of the state. Anyone who was armed and has the capabilities to join the Ministry of Defense will be welcome”he said, assuring that it is sure “these conditions and criteria” that “negotiations” will be carried out with the FDS, “hoping to find a suitable solution”.
He also hoped that the Trump administration, which will take office on January 20, will lift sanctions against Syria, the only way according to him to allow the Syrian economy to revive. “The sanctions were imposed on Syria due to crimes committed by the regime against victims”he said. “Today, it is these victims who have overthrown this regime (…). Sanctions must therefore be lifted automatically”he estimated. And to hope “that the sanctions will be lifted without having to enter into negotiations”.
Source: www.liberation.fr
