ISTANBUL / Leith al-Junaidi / AA

Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara said on Sunday that his country is 'writing a new history that reflects its civilization and values,' and called on members of the new People's Assembly (parliament) to bear 'the responsibility of building the nation and the individual.'

In a speech at the first session of the People's Assembly, al-Shara said: 'Humanity has been searching since its inception for the optimal way to manage its interests; acceptance and satisfaction are a means to expel discord.'

He added: 'Syria is writing a glorious history that reflects its heroism, and we are faced with the responsibility of building the nation and the individual and prioritizing responsibility.'

He continued: 'We are partners in building responsibility, and the council today is a platform for truth and justice.'

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Addressing parliament members, he added: 'I invite you to make this council a model of responsibility and efficiency, and to contribute to consolidating a culture of dialogue, the rule of law, and respect for institutions.'

He stressed that 'Syria today is writing a new history that reflects its civilization, values, and heritage; let us together make the history of modern Syria.'

Earlier on Sunday, the first session of the new People's Assembly (parliament) began in the Syrian capital Damascus, a week after its postponement.

The session began with the attendance of Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara, along with a number of ministers and officials, according to an Anadolu correspondent.

The session witnessed the presence of 206 members out of 210 (excluding 3 members from Sweida, and the member from Idlib province in the north, Muhammad Kalthoum, who died in mid-June last year due to a heart attack), where they took the oath before al-Shara, and members of the presidential office are expected to be elected.

The three vacancies in Sweida province resulted from the challenges and restrictive security conditions there due to violations by the militia of Hekmat al-Hijri, one of the Druze spiritual leaders in Syria.

However, the province recorded its presence in the council through the supplementary third appointed by al-Shara, which included both Laith al-Bal'ous and Subh al-Badah to ensure representation of the province's voice, without canceling its legal right to fill the remaining vacant seats later.

The convening of the first session of the People's Assembly comes days after the completion of the appointment of the People's Assembly members, following al-Shara's issuance of Decree No. 143 of 2026, which includes the full names of the members, including the supplementary third appointed by him.

On July 5, the Supreme Committee for People's Assembly Elections announced the postponement of the first session, which was scheduled for the following day, to a later date without giving reasons.

The new council consists of 210 members; 140 of them were elected through electoral bodies in various Syrian provinces, while the president appointed 70 members forming the supplementary third, according to the provisions of the temporary electoral system.

These political developments come as a major step in rebuilding state institutions, after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime on December 8, 2024, which ruled the country between 2000 and 2024.