Syrian President Sharaa in first speech: We will work to form a comprehensive transitional government

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa said he took over responsibility for the country after extensive consultations with legal experts, pledging to work to form a comprehensive transitional government that represents all Syrians, and stressing that the country is today opening a new chapter in its history.

In his first speech to the people as president, he announced this evening, Thursday, that he will issue a constitutional declaration to be the legal reference for the transitional phase, and that he will announce in the coming days a preparatory committee for the National Dialogue Conference.

He said, "We will work to form a transitional government that will build the institutions of the new Syria until the stage of free and fair elections."

Al-Sharaa, who assumed the presidency on Wednesday, pledged to work with all his "strength and will to achieve Syrian unity," calling on "all Syrians to build our new homeland together."

He said that the focus in the coming period will be on "achieving civil peace and pursuing criminals who have shed Syrian blood," as well as on "building strong state institutions in which there is no corruption or bribery."

The Syrian President stressed in his speech that the country "was liberated thanks to God and thanks to all those who struggled at home and abroad."

During an expanded meeting of the military and revolutionary factions yesterday, Wednesday, in the People's Palace in Damascus, it was decided to declare Sharaa as the president of the Syrian Arab Republic in the transitional phase and to cancel the 2012 constitution.

The dissolution of the Arab Socialist Baath Party, the People's Assembly, the army, and the security services affiliated with the regime of the deposed President Bashar al-Assad was also announced, and the President of the Republic was authorized to form a temporary legislative council for the transitional period until a permanent constitution is approved.

Source: Al Jazeera