Ahmed Al-Sharaa: The Israeli presence in Syrian territory threatens regional security.

Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara said during a video conference with the presidents of France, Lebanon, Cyprus, and the Greek prime minister on Friday that Syria faces security challenges, particularly the Israeli presence in Syria, stressing that "defending Syria will not be an option, but a necessity."

According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), France hosted a video summit that brought together Sharaa, French President Emmanuel Macron, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The Syrian presidency said in a statement that the summit discussed "sensitive issues affecting relations between the five countries, most notably border security and shared threats, lifting economic sanctions, common interests and strengthening regional cooperation, supporting the Syrian administration in reforms, Israeli violations, the common position, combating terrorism, and regional cooperation."

During the summit, discussions focused on the border issue, economic sanctions, common interests, and enhancing regional cooperation, with a focus on energy, transportation, and trade. Sharaa emphasized that Syria "faces major security challenges on its southern borders," noting that the Israeli presence on Syrian territory poses a continuing threat to regional peace and security. He emphasized the "need to lift the economic sanctions imposed by Western countries on Syria."

According to a statement from the Syrian presidency, the attendees affirmed their "support for the Syrian administration's serious efforts to implement political and economic reforms." Sharaa noted that "Syria has begun taking real steps toward reforms at the political, economic, and social levels, and is working to build a stable and strong state."

The attendees emphasized the need for practical steps in the field of human rights and political progress. The conferees agreed to establish a serious and stable relationship in the new Syria, mobilize international support, and follow up on the outcomes of the Brussels conference to support reconstruction efforts.

For his part, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Friday his willingness to welcome Sharaa if the Syrian government demonstrates openness to civil society as a whole and commits to ensuring the security of the return of Syrian refugees, according to Agence France-Presse.

During a joint press conference with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Macron said, "A government that takes into account all components of Syrian civil society, in addition to a clear and resolute fight against terrorism and the return of refugees, are three elements that form the basis for judging the transitional phase."

He added, "Depending on developments in the coming weeks, we are fully prepared to continue this dialogue and receive the transitional president. The coming weeks will be crucial to confirm this. However, the discussions we have had so far have been entirely positive."

During the summit, Macron stressed, according to the French news agency, that the issue of refugee return is "fundamental for a country like Lebanon, and also for the entire region," calling for "mobilizing the international community" to work "on a (permanent) framework for the return" of refugees, which also includes the social and economic levels.

(Al-Araby Al-Jadeed)