Syrian Prime Minister Al-Bashir's call to Syrians: 'Return home'

Mohammed Al-Bashir, the prime minister of the transitional government formed after Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took control in Syria, has issued a call to Syrians outside the country, stating, "Syria is now a free country that has regained its pride and dignity. Return home."

In an interview with Italian media, Al-Bashir said the following:

“There is very little or no value in the treasury, only Syrian pounds. We have no foreign currency, and as for loans and bonds, we are still collecting data. So, we are in a very bad financial situation. We will only stay until March 2025. The debt is huge, the challenges are enormous, but we have the Idlib experience where we succeeded. We can develop Syria. It will take time, but we will get there."

Al-Bashir touched upon the three goals of his interim government, which will serve until March 1, and continued:

“First is the restoration of security and stability in all cities of Syria. People are exhausted by injustice and oppression. State authority must be re-established so that people can return to their jobs and normal lives.

Second is the return of the millions of Syrians currently abroad. Their human capital and experience will enable the country's development.

My call to all Syrians abroad: Syria is now a free country that has regained its pride and dignity. Return home. We must rebuild, we must be reborn, and we need everyone's help."

Stating that their third goal is strategic planning, Prime Minister Al-Bashir said, "Syrians cannot live with the insecurity of basic services such as electricity, bread, and water. We are a transitional government, but we must start working on this. When we entered Aleppo, Hama, and Damascus, Syrians were living in double darkness: the darkness of the regime and the darkness caused by power outages. This is absolutely unacceptable." Al-Bashir added, "We will guarantee the rights of all peoples and all sects in Syria."

Touching on the foreign policy of the transitional government, Al-Bashir stated, "We have no problems with any state, party, or sect that has kept its distance from the bloodthirsty Assad regime."

Al-Bashir noted that since 2011, when the uprising against the Assad government began, many Syrians have been tortured, imprisoned, and killed, emphasizing that those responsible will be tried according to Syrian law.