Syria to open airspace to air traffic soon
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The transport minister in the Syrian government announces that the country will be opening its airspace for foreign airlines in the coming hours.
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In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, a Syrian commercial plane coming from Lebanon lands at Aleppo Airport, Syria, early Friday, January 15, 2021. (SANA via AP)
The minister of transport in the Syrian transitional government announced that Syrian airspace will be reopened for air traffic within the coming hours.
The minister stated that the Ministry of Transport has begun work to prepare Syrian civilian airports, carrying out necessary maintenance to facilitate the arrival and departure of flights. He also confirmed that the operational dates for Damascus and Aleppo airports would be announced in the coming days.
Regarding border crossings, the minister noted that "efforts are ongoing to prepare and organize procedures for border crossings with neighboring countries."
Meanwhile, the Syrian Ministry of Information reported the arrival of the Turkish Foreign Minister and Intelligence Chief, alongside Qatar’s State Security Chief, to Damascus.
The Turkish-Qatari delegation held meetings with the commander of the Military Coordination Room, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and the interim prime minister according to the Ministry of Information, the discussions aimed to promote internal political dialogue among all opposition parties.
Calls for return of diaspora
Syrian interim Prime Minister Mohammad al-Bashir has called on Syrians abroad to return to the country, pledging to protect the rights of all communities.
In an interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera on Wednesday, al-Bashir emphasized the importance of repatriating millions of Syrian refugees, stating, "Their human capital and expertise will contribute to Syria’s prosperity." He explained that the transitional government, though limited by the absence of interior and defense ministers, has been functioning through collaboration with general directorates.
Al-Bashir highlighted Syria's dire financial situation, noting, "There is not a single US dollar or any foreign currency in the state treasury—only the Syrian pound." He acknowledged the challenges of reconstruction but expressed optimism, citing a successful governance experiment in Idlib as an example of progress. He also confirmed that the transitional phase would last until March 2025.
The interim prime minister outlined three primary objectives for his government: Ensuring safety across all Syrian cities to enable citizens to resume normal life, encouraging Syrians abroad to return, emphasizing that a unified Syria has regained its freedom and dignity, and addressing the fragility of basic services, such as electricity, bread, and water, to improve living conditions.
Al-Bashir also announced plans for drafting a new constitution, with details to be unveiled during the constitutional process. He assured that the government would uphold the rights of all Syrian communities and ethnic groups.
