In his first UN speech, Syria's al-Sharaa urges end to all sanctions

"Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has called for the lifting of international sanctions in his first address to the United Nations General Assembly, becoming the country's first head of state to speak at the gathering in nearly 60 years. Syria is reclaiming its rightful place among the nations of the world, al-Sharaa told world leaders on Wednesday, saying his country's story was filled with emotions, and it mixes pain with hope."

"The Syrian story is a story of struggle between good and evil, he added. For long years, we've suffered injustice and deprivation and oppression. Then we rose in claiming our dignity. Syrians across the country came together to watch al-Sharaa's speech. People gathered in front of large screens, watching a moment that can be described as historic: the first time a Syrian head of state addresses the UN General Assembly in almost 60 years, Al Jazeera's Abdullah Okaily said, reporting from Damascus."

"Al-Sharaa took power in January after leading opposition fighters in toppling President Bashar al-Assad, ending his family's five-decade rule. In his speech, al-Sharaa outlined steps taken in the months since: establishing new institutions, planning to hold elections and encouraging foreign investment. We call now for the complete lifting of sanctions, so that they no longer shackle the Syrian people, he said."

Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa called for the complete lifting of international sanctions in his first address to the United Nations General Assembly, becoming the country's first head of state to speak there in nearly 60 years. Al-Sharaa said Syria is reclaiming its rightful place among nations and described the national story as filled with emotions, mixing pain with hope and framed as a struggle between good and evil. He said Syrians suffered injustice, deprivation and oppression before rising to claim dignity. He outlined steps since taking power in January — new institutions, planned elections and efforts to attract foreign investment — and demanded sanctions be removed so they no longer shackle the Syrian people. The United States removed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham from its foreign terrorist organisations list in July, reflecting a shift in policy.

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