The Foreign Minister of the new Syrian administration, Asaad Al-Shaibani, said, “Syria aspires to open a new and bright page in Syrian-Saudi relations,” on the occasion of his visit to the Kingdom.“.
Al-Shaibani wrote on the “X” platform: “I recently arrived in the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, accompanied by Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and the head of General Intelligence, Anas Khattab.”
He continued: “Through this first visit in the history of a free Syria, we aspire to open a new and bright page in Syrian-Saudi relations worthy of the ancient shared history between the two countries.”
A Syrian delegation including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Asaad Al-Shaibani, and the Minister of Defense, Murhaf Abu Qasra, arrived in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on its first official visit abroad. The delegation includes the head of the Syrian General Intelligence Service, Anas Khattab.
In another context, the Ministry of Education in the Syrian caretaker government announced, on Wednesday, broad changes to the curricula for all educational levels, from the first grade of primary school to the third grade of secondary school.
These amendments included deleting many texts and paragraphs, and replacing them with new contents in line with what the ministry described as “the values and principles that it seeks to enhance in the curricula.” The Ministry of Education indicated that these amendments are for the 2025 academic year.
The most prominent amendments included deleting paragraphs related to the Syrian national anthem, such as the paragraph “Complete the national anthem,” and paragraphs asking students to memorize or complete the national anthem were removed.
It was decided to delete texts and images related to the previous regime, including slogans and pictures of former leaders. Contents related to “national pride” were also modified or removed as “old discourse.”
Fundamental amendments were made to Islamic education, including changing phrases of a “national character” to become more closely linked to “religious values,” such as replacing “defending the homeland” with the phrase “for the sake of God,” according to the ministry.
In history and philosophy books, paragraphs that dealt with ancient gods and non-religious symbols were removed, and replaced with others that focus on what the ministry described as “scientific and cultural values.”
In geography, the names of sites or landmarks associated with the previous regime were deleted, with a focus on “national unity” and “the diversity of Syrian nature.”
The amendments included deleting paragraphs dealing with non-religious symbols and replacing them with content that the ministry said “promotes critical thinking,” through “analysis and logical thinking.”
In the Arabic language, texts that promoted the previous regime were deleted and replaced with literary and poetic works, and texts dealing with direct political topics were also deleted.
Texts and images that reflected the orientations of the previous regime were deleted, while more neutral contents linked to “universal values” were introduced, according to the ministry.
Turkish Minister: We are looking forward to an agreement to demarcate maritime borders with Syria
In another context, Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Oraloglu said, “His country is planning to begin negotiations to demarcate the maritime borders with Syria in the Mediterranean Sea.”
“Such an agreement will allow the two countries to increase their areas of influence in the field of energy exploration,” Oraloglu told reporters in the capital, Ankara, on Tuesday. Pointing out that any future agreement will be compatible with international law.
A similar maritime agreement signed between Turkey and Libya in 2019 increased tensions between the government in Ankara and Greece over energy exploration in the Mediterranean.
Oraloglu pointed out that progress in negotiating a maritime agreement will require the presence of a stable political authority in Syria.
Turkey has emerged as one of the main countries asserting its influence in reshaping the political scene in Syria after the collapse of the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad on December 8 of last year, and Ankara has strong incentives to involve Syria’s new rulers, as Turkey hosts about 3 million Syrian immigrants, while it is expected For Turkish companies to be at the forefront of beneficiaries of post-war reconstruction.
Blinken and his French counterpart discuss a “comprehensive transition process” in Syria
In news related to the Syrian issue, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian, discussed the latest developments in the Syrian and Lebanese files.
A statement from the office of US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that the two ministers discussed, during a phone call on Wednesday evening, the latest developments in and ways to “help the Syrian people seize the opportunity to build a better future while reducing the risks of further instability,” including by In addition to the necessity of a comprehensive Syrian-led transition process.
Miller said through his account on the “X” platform: “Blinken and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian discussed developments in Syria and Lebanon, including the importance of a comprehensive, Syrian-led transition process, and the need for a coordinated approach to help the Lebanese people rebuild their institutions.”
Blinken stressed “the need for all groups in Syria to respect human rights, respect international humanitarian law, and take all necessary precautions to protect civilians, including members of minorities.”
He also urged the international community to come forward “to locate missing and unjustly detained people, including American citizen Austin Tice.”
The statement added that the US Secretary praised France’s leadership in supporting Lebanon, including its continued assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces, and stressed the importance of a coordinated approach to help the Lebanese people rebuild their institutions and restore their leadership through the presidential elections.
Last updated: January 2, 2025 – 11:12
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