For most countries, it was an ordinary occurrence. But for Syria, it was truly momentous. For the first time in 58 years, a Syrian head of state addressed the United Nations General Assembly. The last time this happened was in 1967 when then-President Nureddin al-Atassi spoke at the podium.
During his address last week, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced his country's return to the international stage, echoing earlier declarations of its reintegration into the Arab fold, and—more importantly—its return to the Syrian people. While in New York, he held a series of meetings with world leaders, senior officials, members of the Syrian diaspora, research institutions, and media outlets. At every turn, he presented himself as a realist— a man attuned to what the world expects of him and what Syria, in turn, expects from the world.
In a panel discussion hosted by the Middle East Institute in New York, al-Sharaa remarked: “Since Damascus was liberated, one million people have returned to Syria, and the export of Captagon has declined by 90%", adding “Syria seeks to maintain equal distance from all parties.”
These are not peripheral points—they lie at the heart of what the international community has long demanded of Bashar al-Assad as preconditions for re-engagement: the return of displaced Syrians, the halting of Captagon production and export, an end to support for militias, and non-interference in the affairs of neighbouring states.
