“It may take up to four years to hold elections in Syria,” Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sara told Saudi Arabia’s state-run Al Arabiya TV station today, speaking about his country’s future after taking power. by his organization, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

The jihadist leader, who until recently used his “militant” name al-Golani, said the current period – under his leadership – is a “preliminary” for a longer-term interim government to come next.

“Sharing power at this time would be disastrous at this stage,” he said.

As al-Sara pointed out, it will take at least a year for Syrian citizens to see dramatic changes in the country.

Also, it will take at least 3 years for post-war Syria to have a new Constitution.

Al-Sara again referred to the dissolution of his organization, saying the announcement would be made at a “national dialogue” conference.

He further announced that the Syrian Ministry of Defense will include Kurdish forces in its ranks.

“We are negotiating with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to resolve the crisis in northeastern Syria. The Kurds are an integral part of the Syrian population. The Syrian Ministry of Defense will integrate Kurdish forces into its ranks. There will be no federalism,” said the new leader of Syria.

On relations with Russia

Al-Sara emphasized that Syria has “strategic interests” with Russia (which has military bases in Syria and was an ally of Bashar al-Assad) and would not want Moscow to leave the country in a way that is not to its liking. the interest of the relations of the two countries.

The new leader has also recently stated that Syria’s relations with Russia should serve common interests.

Finally, he expressed the hope that the new Trump administration in the US will lift the sanctions imposed on Damascus.

Top US diplomats who visited Damascus this month said Ahmed al-Sara appeared pragmatic and that Washington had decided to lift the declaration against Syria’s new leader.