Shaibani to euronews: We are open to a security agreement with Israel

Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani stressed that Syria wants to reach  a "security agreement" with Israel that guarantees respect for the sovereignty of both parties and maintains stability, but rejects any path to normalization imposed by military force or through political pressure.

We seek peace and reject normalization by force

He explained that Syria is looking for "peace" that protects its interests and sovereignty, and completely rejects "normalization" imposed through provocation or military force.

He said that Israel "has not calmed down since December 8,  2024, from threatening stability in Syria, destabilizing security, and targeting military and civilian infrastructures under flimsy and credible pretexts," stressing that Syria wants "peace, not normalization."

He added that there is a "difference between peace and normalization," explaining that peace "is built on the interests of both parties, respects the security of both parties and protects the sovereignty of both parties," while normalization "under the use of military force or provocation cannot be accepted."

The minister also renewed Israel's demand to withdraw from the Syrian territories it has occupied since 2024, revealing that Damascus has already engaged in US-brokered negotiations, expressing his hope that these negotiations will lead to "a calm, comprehensive agreement that respects Syria's sovereignty."

Al-Shaibani also called on Israel to withdraw from the territories it occupied in 2024, accusing it of continuing to target Syrian infrastructure with flimsy pretexts since December 2024, stressing that any future agreement must be "calm and comprehensive" that ends the chronic state of instability.

The Refugee File: Conditional Return on Recovery

Minister Al-Shaibani categorically denied that there was any agreement with Germany or European countries to immediately return hundreds of thousands of Syrians.

He said that the discussions with the European side only dealt with a return mechanism that does not impede the reconstruction process, explaining that the return of Syrians is linked to the availability of appropriate conditions economically, in life and in all walks of life.

Damascus does not encourage the unorganized and rapid return of refugees, he said, warning that this could lead to the transformation of Syrians from refugees abroad to internally displaced people.

He also stressed that reconstruction needs the engagement of the international community, especially the European Union, to support the Syrian government and secure a "safe environment" for this path.

At the same time, the minister refused to say that Syria is still an unsafe country, considering that this proposal does not agree with him, especially since European countries no longer grant refugee status to those who leave Syria, because they believe that the situation in the country is safe and stable.

But at the same time, he warned that imposing an "involuntary and dignified return" on Syrians could lead to "chaos in Syria", stressing that the situation requires the creation of the right environment before any large-scale return.

Relationship with Europe

On the relationship with Brussels, al-Shaibani pointed to a diplomatic breakthrough represented in the lifting of sanctions and the reopening of embassies, considering that the European Union is beginning to realize the importance of dealing with the "emerging Syrian state".

Damascus has been able to address the files of "migration, terrorism and Captagon" issued by the former regime, he said, stressing that the current government represents all Syrians without sectarian or cultural discrimination.

Economic Challenges

Minister  Al-Shaibani pointed out  that Syria was able to attract investments worth $62 billion in a year and a half, despite the fragility of the economy emerging from a 14-year war, stressing that Damascus's current strategy is based on "distancing" and distancing the country from regional conflicts, especially the potential confrontation between Iran and the United States, to ensure the continuation of the reconstruction process and secure the future of Syrians.