UN (AP) – Turning the page over decades of distance, the Syrian president spoke to the UN General Assembly, marking the first time his country’s president went in nearly 60 years.
Ahmad al-Sharah said on Wednesday that Syria has returned to the international community after a dictatorship of 600,000 people killed 1 million and tortured hundreds of thousands.
“Syria is regaining its rightful place among the countries around the world,” he told the annual gathering of world leaders at the rally.
Alshara became the first Syrian head of state to speak at the UN as Nulededin Attasi gave a speech shortly after the Arab-Israel War.
The dictatorial and oppressive 50-year rules of the Assad dynasty in Syria suddenly collapsed in December. Assad’s fall ended nearly 14 years of civil war.
In a speech, Alshara blasted Israel and said it had not stopped threats to his country since the collapse of President Bashar Assad in December.
Arshala hopes to bring about the withdrawal of Israeli forces and return to the 1974 liberation agreement, and negotiations are underway for a security agreement. Alshara said last week that deals could be reached in a few days, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to be underestimating the possibility of a breakthrough on Sunday.
___
Mrou reported from Beirut.
