In an interview with the Athens News Agency, Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ibrahim Olabi, explained the label of “minorities,” stressing equality before the law and inclusive representation of Muslims, Christians, Alawites, Druze, and Kurds at the ministerial level.
Regarding Greece, he called it “an important neighbour,” highlighting shared history and refugee solidarity. Damascus seeks deeper cooperation with Athens and the EU, recalling high-level contacts and affirming, “we share a maritime border in that sense,” aiming for an equal partnership.
On the political transition, Ambassador Olabi said Syria would act “in harmony with Resolution 2254 and not bound by it” on constitutional reform and elections, while pursuing a nationally owned process adapted to new realities.
The full interview with Syrian UN Ambassador Ibrahim Olabi, conducted by Athens – Macedonian News Agency correspondent Georgia Garantzioti in New York:
What is the government’s view on this significant agreement with the SDF?
For us, this agreement is a success story for all Syrians. It’s not about winning or losing, for one part or the other. Since the early days of the liberation, the new government has always said it wants to resolve matters through diplomacy and engagement.
The fact that we hosted SDF Commander General Mazloum Abdi in March and they signed the historic agreement, shows to that. It shows to the fact that the government, even when we were forced to have a limited military operation, the doors to diplomacy were constantly open. General Mazloum was also engaging with Damascus during that time.
Now, this agreement is proof of what Damascus has been saying for a very long time. And we see it, as I said, as a success for all Syrians because we all want a united, strong, prosperous Syria that respects all its components and recognizes all components of a society.
The implementation has begun. The security forces have entered the different areas that they are supposed to be in. They have had initial meetings and things seem to be running smoothly. So the agreement has begun immediately.
If problems arise during implementation what kind of mechanism would be used to resolve them?
Talking and engagement. We do not see this as an internationalized or international matter. This is a Syrian matter. And we have proven over the last year that we are able to talk and we are able to engage.
I think we have been very reasonable in accommodating all the different logistical, political, security needs, and so on. And this is something that we will continue doing.
The United States has played an important role in facilitating and mediating talks. Some other countries have done so as well. But I think that, judging from where things stand now, hopefully there will no longer be any obstacles.
There are still concerns about the protection of ethnic and religious components in Syria. Greece, among other UNSC member states, attaches particular importance to the protection of the Greek-Orthodox community and the Patriarchate of Anthioch, monasteries and churches in the country. Can Damascus guarantee the full rights of the Greek-Orthodox communities, including property restitution and freedom of worship?
What was very fulfilling since the early days is that different components of Syrian society refused to be called minorities. It was kind of eye-opening that when some countries even said “we would like to protect minorities,” these groups came out and said “we do not need your protection.” We see ourselves as Syrians. And that all Syrians deserve the protection regardless of their background in terms of before the eyes of the law.
The government has taken incredible steps to address some concerns that some of these components may have. First, for example, when it comes to representation in the ministerial appointments to signal the kind of Syria we would like to have. This is the highest ministerial appointment. You have a member of almost every component of Syrian society.
Although we do not like to think of it that way. We do not want to refer to them in their religious or ethnic identity. But when this question arises, it is important sometimes to recognize that there are Muslims, Christians, Alawites, Druzes at the ministerial level.
We have, for example, Kurds join the security services before the deal with the SDF. The same thing of Alawites now in different parts of Syria joining the security services. We also made sure that the narrative is something that’s supportive and the actions are self-supportive.
So I am not sure if you followed the Christmas celebrations in Syria, but they were wild. People were celebrating on the streets. People were happy. Government officials lit up the Christmas trees. We paid tributes to the visits to the churches.
When I hosted the Security Council a couple of months ago in Damascus, I made sure that all kind of religious leaders and religious figures are represented in there. So in terms of what the government is doing, it is doing all that it can to shed light that this is the Syria we would like to build, that diversity is a form of strength, not a cause for concern.
When certain things went wrong in different places, we have taken full responsibility. When, for example, the events of the coast took place, I personally took the UN commission of inquiry there to investigate, so that the reality can come out and the perpetrators be held to account. And this was kind of upvoted by the international community. However, the interesting thing about the UN report was that it said the government was not committing any of those crimes against Alawites.
Recently, there was an issue that came out from a German magazine highlighting German migration laws. And it cited a German case of asylum where someone said “I can’t go back to Syria because I am an Alawite.” The German court, which is very sensitive on that, replied that there is no persecution of Alawites in Syria. So they have seen the efforts that we have taken.
Τwo days ago the US Ambassador mentioned a Security Official called Mohammad Massat. Mohammed gave his life defending a church from an ISIS militant. This is the Syria we are.
That does not mean that it is easy. That does not mean that it is not challenging. The former regime really played on the sectarian lines and weaponized sectarianism to its advantage to stay in power. So we are dealing with a difficult legacy, but it is a legacy that we happily take responsibility for in words, actions, steps, and responsibility when things do not go as planned.
How does Damascus evaluate its relations with Greece?
Greece is an important neighbour of Syria. There is a lot that brings us together, not just geography, but also, religion and ethnicity. Greece also took on Syrian refugees, which we are very grateful for.
In bilateral terms, our Minister of Foreign Affairs, Asaad al Shaibani has already visited Athens and had high-level meetings with His Excellency the Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis.
Additionally, Syria is engaging with Greece on the European level, which is also very important for us. At the multilateral level, Greece is member of the UN Security Council, the Greek Ambassador Aglaia Balta came very happily to Syria and also met members of the religious communities there, something we organised for all members to see that we are proud of diversity.
For us, the relationship with Europe and the relationship with Greece is an important one. We share a maritime border, in that sense. And we are keen to build a relationship that is in the interests of both parties in an equal way.
That is also a new page for Europe. Because Europe, including Greece, stood on the right side of history against the Assad regime, and that’s something that we do not forget. This also needs to be taken into account when building this new relationship with Europe.
As you have seen, we have been open, engaging and looking at opportunities. And we hope that Greece and the European Union will in the same way also engage actively to see where they can benefit themselves and the Syrian people in the same way.
What concrete steps does Damascus plan ahead for an inclusive political transition in line with Security Council resolution 2254, particularly regarding constitutional reform and nationwide elections?
This resolution was designed at a completely different time. And a lot of it was overtaken by events. It still talks about the Syrian government as in the Assad government, and the opposition in Geneva, and stuff like that. So it has been for the most part overtaken by events. But there are things that is still relevant to it in terms of constitution and election.
We would like to be in harmony with that resolution, when we designed our political process. Not guided by it, not bound by it, but in harmony.
We published a five-year transition plan that has the constitutional declaration, the parliamentary elections, which we just held and hopefully we are going to hold now in the new areas in the northeast of Syria. Then you have the constitutional committee, then you have elections, and so on.
But we made sure that there is no political vacuum, and that is why we announced the plan, and everything was done orderly, in a way, so that we uphold the institutions and uphold the rule of law, and that is the key thing for the Syria that we would like to build.
Are there any developments on the security talks with Israel? What message would you be conveying to Israel?
Our principle has been very clear since day one. There is a 1974 agreement that the Security Council gave its rubber stamp on. There are UNDOF forces between us and Israel. There are peacekeeping forces. After the regime fell, for some reason, Israel decided to move into areas of UNDOF. It displaced peacekeepers, in that sense. Israel used security concerns saying that “we do not know what this government is and how will it look like.” They took precautionary measures. But it is very clear that nothing about it is temporary.
I just came back from there. That is why I just gave a briefing about what I have seen, in that sense. It does not look temporary. I went there with USG for Peacekeeping Operations Jean Pier Lacroix to see what is happening. Israel must respect the 1974 agreement. That is what we want to go back to.
The US has been mediating talks. That does not mean that we are relinquishing our rights to the Golan Heights. Here at the UN, we had a resolution that got 123 votes on the Golan Heights. And we are very clear that it is not for the Syrian government -particularly not during a transitional period- to relinquish any Syrian rights.
Security concerns for both sides we can address. But land grab we cannot. An exercise of impunity we cannot, which we have seen and heard from Syria families targeted by Israel. Israel has seen an engagement that it has never seen from Syria before. But the outcome of that engagement lies also in the hands of Israel as much as it lies in the hands of Syria.
What is the situation in Al-Hawl camp? UN experts warn that Al-Hawl is becoming an incubator for extremism.
Analysts have been saying that for some time because it is a ticking bomb. It has been there and it has unfortunately been left unattended. Countries that have citizens there have stripped them from their citizenship, in order to make it difficult for them to return.
So the Al-Hawl camp was also part of the complicated legacy that the Syrian government inherited. We inherited sanctions, a complicated economy, divided factions, displaced population. Al-Hawl was also a very complicated story. We have taken full responsibility for it.
We are now engaging with the relevant governments to see how we are going to deal with their citizens and see that they also assume their responsibility. We are working with UNHCR to make sure that there is provision of services.
People call it the Al-Hawl camp but it is an open-air prison in that sense with a lot of mothers and children. So we will find a way that is secure, just, and human for the people there.
But again, we have taken our full responsibility of it and we will work with our international partners, again, to make sure that there is a secure, just, and humane solution to this situation.
President al Sharaa recently visited Russia for the second time. Given that he has requested Bashar al Assad’s extradition, what was the main objective of the visit? Does Russia try to amplify its presence in Syria and secure its bases?
The relationship between Russia and Syria goes long before the uprising. Assad’s father started it. So in that sense, it is not something that the Syrian government is doing out of the ordinary.
When we liberated Syria, major powers were there. This is part of the legacy that we inherited. So, we wanted to make sure that the relationship between Russia -which we do not see as being on the right path under the former regime- should be corrected and that we start a new page of that relationship that benefits Syrians, first and foremost. If that aligns with Russian interests, then that is fine.
You have seen that we have been engaging with Russia on many topics through this long relationship. But we are also in the process now of redrawing what that relationship looks like. Those trips are part of that. Because it is a new era. A new era of how we are engaging with all countries. That also includes Russia.
So nothing is fixed and set in stone now. We are exploring where the interests of the Syrian people are. And that will depend on how we deal with different states across the world”.
How would you describe Turkey’s role in Syria?
Turkey has taken a lot of refugees, more than four million. We share almost a thousand kilometres border with Turkey. The liberation of Syria was a surprise to everybody. I think Turkey, after the fall of the regime and the liberation, has adapted very quickly and engaged very quickly and offered all what it can also very quickly. Unlikely many other countries that took their time.
I mean, Europe, unfortunately, took its time before it engaged strongly. Some countries were still leveraging Assad era sanctions on this new government to try and balance something out or get something out.
Turkey did not do that. It engaged very quickly. We see Turkey as an important regional player in Syria.
In parallel, it was noted our first official trip was to Saudi Arabia. We also see our Arab kind of relations in that sense. The first trip of President al Sharaa was to Saudi Arabia to signal that Syria is also part of the Arab world.
You have seen that in the last operation on the northeast, there was very limited involvement from any regional country. People did not expect that. People expected a lot of regional countries to get involved, including Turkey.
However, Turkey trusted us to handle this in a way that safeguards Syria’s interests first, but also takes seriously into account the national security concerns of Turkey when it comes to the PKK. We have delivered on that without Turkish involvement.
We are trying to have a good relationship with all our neighbours in a way that is respectful with European countries, with all regional countries, with the United States, with Iraq and so on. They are not mutually exclusive.
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