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- Al-Sharaa spent his early childhood in Riyadh and hopes to visit the city again
- He commended Riyadh鈥檚 efforts toward stabilizing Syria
RIYADH: Syria鈥檚 new leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa said 抖阴短视频 has a major role to play in his country鈥檚 future during an interview with aired on Sunday.
鈥湺兑醵淌悠� has a major role in Syria鈥檚 future, and I take pride in everything it has done for us,鈥� he said, adding that he spent his early childhood in Riyadh and hopes to visit the city again.
Al-Sharaa also praised recent Saudi statements as 鈥渧ery positive鈥� and commended Riyadh鈥檚 efforts toward stabilizing Syria.
He added that the Kingdom has major investment opportunities in Syria.
Speaking about elections in the country, Al-Sharaa said organizing polls in Syria could take up to four years as it requires a comprehensive population census. He said drafting a new constitution could take three years.
Al-Sharaa is Syria鈥檚 de facto leader until March 1, when Syria鈥檚 different factions are set to hold a political dialogue to determine the country鈥檚 political future and establish a transitional government that brings the divided country together. There, he said, Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham will dissolve after years of being the country鈥檚 most dominant militant group that held a strategic enclave in the country鈥檚 northwest.
He also expressed hope that the administration of US president-elect Donald Trump would lift sanctions on his country after Bashar Assad鈥檚 ouster.
鈥淭he sanctions on Syria were issued based on the crimes that the regime committed,鈥� Al-Sharaa said.
Since HTS and allied militants had ousted Assad, 鈥渢hese sanctions should be removed automatically,鈥� he said.
Speaking about Syrian-Russian relations, he said the two countries shared 鈥渄eep strategic interests.鈥�
He expressed his desire to rebuild ties with the close ally of Assad and said: 鈥淩ussia is an important country and is considered the second most powerful country in the world.鈥�
He added: 鈥淎ll Syria鈥檚 arms 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 wish.鈥�
The HTS leader also said negotiations are ongoing with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in northeastern Syria, and hopes that their armed forces will integrate with the Syrian security agencies.
The Kurdish-led group is Washington鈥檚 key ally in Syria, where it is heavily involved in targeting Daesh sleeper cells.