Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy said that Syria’s main challenge is not its relations with Arab countries, but liberating occupied territories, restoring international ties, rebuilding the state and strengthening domestic stability. He said Arab countries regard Syria as a full member of the League, and that its relations with the Arab region are developing positively.
Fahmy noted that discussions within the Arab League focus on restoring Syrian sovereignty, state institutions and stability, as well as on the situation of Syrians living abroad. He stressed the need for their return and participation in rebuilding the country. Fahmy also called on Israel to withdraw from the Golan Heights, saying that Israel’s occupation of Syrian territories had expanded following political changes in Syria.
According to Fahmy, explanations from Syria’s new administration helped Arab countries establish a more constructive political and economic dialogue with Damascus. Speaking about Lebanon, he called for strengthening the state’s sovereign decision-making, preserving its unity and preventing the country from being drawn into internal conflicts. At the same time, he said the situation cannot be reduced solely to Hezbollah’s weapons, as the ongoing Israeli occupation remains one of the key problems.
Regarding Iran, Fahmy condemned Tehran’s interference in the internal affairs of other countries, but stressed that Iran cannot be ignored. He advocated direct and frank dialogue, noting that strengthening state institutions and countries’ independence reduces opportunities for external interference. As an example, he mentioned Yemen and tensions in the Red Sea, where state weakness makes it easier for external actors to exert influence.
Assessing the confrontation between the United States and Iran, Fahmy said it would not end with a military victory for either side and would fluctuate between escalation and de-escalation. In his view, Iran is unable to confront the United States in a direct war and therefore seeks to influence American decisions through economic interests. Overall, he called for resolving regional crises through political means and dialogue, while prioritizing the restoration of states’ territorial integrity and sovereignty.
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What exactly does the required restoration of Syria’s state institutions after years of conflict entail, and which government bodies are considered essential for restoring stability? — This means rebuilding a legitimate and effectively functioning system of governance, including public services, courts, police, armed forces, local authorities, financial institutions and mechanisms of public oversight. The key institutions are considered to be the central government, parliament, an independent judiciary, local self-government bodies and professional security services operating within the law. Constitutional reform, combating corruption and including various ethnic, religious and political groups in governing the country are also important.
What is the international legal status of the Golan Heights, and why does their possible return remain a central issue of Syrian sovereignty? — The Golan Heights are considered Israeli-occupied Syrian territory according to the position of most states and United Nations Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 497, which declared Israel’s decision to extend its laws to the territory null and void. Israel has controlled the Golan Heights since 1967 and extended its laws to them in 1981. In 2019, the United States recognized Israeli sovereignty over the area, but that decision has not received broad international recognition. The possible return of the Golan Heights concerns not only Syria’s territorial integrity, but also security, access to water resources and a final settlement of the Syrian-Israeli conflict.
What obstacles hinder the return of Syrian citizens from neighboring countries and Europe, and what role could Arab states and the Arab League play in their reintegration? — The main obstacles include a lack of security and sustainable livelihoods in Syria, destroyed housing and infrastructure, the risk of persecution or arbitrary detention, unresolved documentation and property issues, as well as restrictions imposed by host countries and refugees’ own concerns. Return requires security guarantees, access to housing, education and healthcare, the restoration of documents and protection of property rights. Arab states can finance reconstruction, support voluntary and safe-return programs and provide jobs. The Arab League can coordinate such policies, seek international funding and facilitate dialogue between Syria, refugee-hosting countries and international organizations.
Full version: Nabil Fahmy: Syria’s challenge is liberating its territory—not war or peace in the conflict with Iran