Syrian Leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa Meets With Palestinian, Russian Delegations; Discussions With Russia Address Need To Restore 'Trust' With Syrians, Admit 'Past Mistakes'

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January 29, 2025

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On January 28, 2025, the General Command of the Syrian militant factions, led by Syrian jihadi group Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), reported on Telegram[1] that HTS leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa aka Abu Muhammad Al-Joulani, described as the "leader of the new Syrian administration," and Asaad Al-Shaibani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the HTS-led Syrian transitional government, met with a Palestinian delegation headed by Mohammad Mustafa, the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority and its Minister of Foreign Affairs. The post included three photos from the meeting.

New Syrian Administration Meets With Russian Delegation

On January 29, the General Command posted[2] that the "new Syrian administration" met with a Russian delegation headed by Mikhail Bogdanov, Russia's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Special Representative for the Middle East. According to the post, the parties discussed "key issues," including maintaining Syria's sovereignty and its "territorial integrity."

The post detailed that the Russians affirmed their support for the "positive changes" in Syria. In addition, the discussion included the role of Russia in "restoring trust with the Syrian people" through "concrete measures, such as compensation, reconstruction, and recovery." The parties also addressed "transitional justice mechanisms" to ensure accountability and justice for the victims of the "barbaric war" waged by the Assad regime.

According to the post, the new Syrian administration affirmed its commitment to cooperate with "all stakeholders" to build a Syrian future rooted in "justice, dignity, and sovereignty." It also emphasized that the renewal of relations must address "past mistakes," respect the Syrian people's will, and serve their interests.

The post was accompanied with a photo of Al-Sharaa and Bogdanov standing together and shaking hands.

Since the downfall of the Assad regime in early December 2024, Al-Sharaa has met with official delegations from various countries, including Turkey, Jordan, Qatar, Lebanon, Germany, and the UK.[3] He has also met with a delegation from the International Criminal Court (ICC) headed by its chief prosecutor, Karim Ahmad Khan.[4]


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