Golan Heights is Syrian land, not up for debate: Al-Sharaa

• President al-Sharaa declared Syrian sovereignty over the Golan Heights non-negotiable under UN resolutions.
• Syria demanded Israel retreat to pre-1974 positions before starting security discussions.
• Damascus is pushing Iraqi oil transit corridors and rejecting ethnic power-sharing quotas.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa delivered a wide-ranging address during an Atlantic Council Front Page event in New York on Tuesday, outlining his government's foreign policy parameters, security negotiations, and regional economic plans on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

Addressing ongoing territorial disputes, Syrian President al-Sharaa firmly asserted Syria's full legal rights over the Golan Heights under international law.

"The Golan is Syrian land according to United Nations resolutions, and there is no room for discussion regarding its status," Syrian President al-Sharaa said during the forum.

'Israeli' withdrawal, US mediation

Regarding border security and regional tensions, al-Sharaa stated that Syria may require an international commission to evaluate security concerns along the frontier, distinguishing between genuine defense needs and mere perceptions.

He stressed that any formal security framework must follow a complete withdrawal by 'Israeli' forces to positions held under the 1974 disengagement agreement.

"We demand that Israel withdraw to the areas it occupied under the 1974 arrangements before discussing security arrangements," al-Sharaa said. "If the security arrangements succeed, it will be possible to move on to discussing a permanent peace."

Al-Sharaa characterized the current geopolitical environment as a "historic moment that could achieve benefits for all parties," while confirming that Washington is actively involved in facilitating negotiations with 'Israel', though noting that progress remains challenging.

Rejecting national division

Turning to regional relations, President al-Sharaa highlighted efforts to restore Syria's role as a major transit hub for Middle Eastern trade and energy exports.

He announced that the Syrian government is working to establish a secure transit corridor across Syrian territory for Iraqi products, with a primary focus on oil exports to Mediterranean ports.

Additionally, al-Sharaa reaffirmed Damascus's commitment to stabilizing neighboring Lebanon, stating that Syria seeks to support the Lebanese government as much as possible and enable state institutions to carry out their duties effectively.

On domestic governance and state structure, the Syrian president firmly dismissed proposals for power-sharing arrangements based on sectarian, ethnic, or regional lines.

"We do not want a quota system based on ethnic, geographic, or religious lines that would lead to the division of Syria," al-Sharaa emphasized, warning against political models that jeopardize the country's territorial integrity.