Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa affirmed that Syria “is not in a state of luxury to engage in centuries-old intellectual disputes,” stressing that the country faces urgent priorities, most important of which is “focusing on societal moral control.”
During his participation in a dialogue symposium within the activities of the First Endowments Conference under the title “Unity of Islamic Discourse,” which was held at the Conference Palace in Damascus, Al-Sharaa pointed out the importance of working “according to a correct plan” and focusing on “what benefits people.”
He explained that the challenges facing Syria are “many and very large,” pointing to the accumulation of administrative and organizational corruption over more than sixty years, in addition to the massive destruction caused to the infrastructure and all sectors and areas of life.
He added that “the evaluation of the performance of the past year must be made by the people, because they are the observer of the performance of the current government,” considering that it is his duty to inform citizens of the reality of the situation in the country.
The Syrian President spoke of implementing “many reforms in a number of ministries,” in addition to improving Syria’s Arab and international relations, and working to “build a balanced economy and a sound development path.”
He also pointed out that last year witnessed “the establishment of a large structure in Syria,” explaining that the state adopts “scientific and precise standards to evaluate performance” with the aim of ensuring the soundness of the steps taken.
In the context of his intervention, Al-Sharaa stressed that the “Unity of Islamic Discourse” charter represents “a step in the right direction,” because it contributes to enhancing balance and unity of speech, and avoiding sliding into partial and detailed disagreements.
He stressed that the pulpit and any location for speaking to the public is “trust,” and that the word is “trust in the mouth of the speaker,” while people’s minds are “trust with the pulpit preacher.” He pointed to the important role of preachers in educating society and raising the new generation, considering that leading society is a shared responsibility between preachers, schools, and the media.
He concluded his speech by emphasizing that directing public opinion and societal behavior involves multiple institutions, including education, higher education, and mosques, calling on each institution to play its role to the fullest.
