Ahmad al-Sharaa's Address to the Syrian Nation, 30 Jan 2025 (HTS leader's first programmatic address; English translation of Arabic original)

I address you today not as a ruler but as a servant for our wounded homeland, striving with all power and will I have been given to realise Syria's unity and renaissance, as we should all understand that this is a transitional stage, and it is part of a political process that requires true participation by all Syrian men and women, inside and outside the country, so that we can build their future with freedom and dignity, without marginalisation or sidelining.

We will work to form a comprehensive transitional government, reflecting Syria's diversity in its men, women and youth, and working to build the new Syria's institutions so that we can reach a stage of free and impartial elections. On the basis of my being entrusted with my current duties and the decision to dissolve the People's Council, I will announce a preparatory committee to choose a mini legislative council that fills this gap in the transitional stage. We will announce in the coming days the preparatory committee for the national dialogue conference, which will be a direct platform for exchanges, discussions and hearing various points of view regarding our forthcoming political program. After completing these steps, we will announce the constitutional declaration to serve as the legal reference for the transitional stage.

We will focus in the coming period on outlining our priorities as follows:

- Attaining civil peace, and pursuing the criminals who have been steeped in Syrian blood, and committed massacres and crimes against us, whether among those who have gone into hiding inside the country, or have fled outside it, via true transitional justice.

- Realising the unity of Syrian lands: all of Syria, and imposing its sovereignty under one authority and on one land.

- Building strong institutions for the state, based on competency and justice, not corruption, cronyism or bribes in them.

- Anchoring the pillars of a strong economy, that restores to Syria its regional and international place, and provides true dignified job opportunities, so that the living situation can be improved, and the basic lost services can be restored.

Oh people of Free Syria, building the homeland is the responsibility of all of us, and this is a call to all Syrians to participate in building a new homeland, in which there is rule through justice and consultation.

Together, we will build the future Syria: the Syria that is the beacon of knowledge and progress, the refuge of security and stability, the Syria of comfort, progress and prosperity, the Syria that extends its hand with peace and respect…