Al-Shar’a rejects the division of Syria

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The Syrian president stresses that the coastal area can never become an independent authority isolated from the rest of the country.

In a firm stance reaffirming the principles of the Syrian state, President Ahmad al-Shar’a reiterated on Thursday Damascus’ unwavering commitment to the unity of sovereign institutions, emphasizing that the sectors of defense, foreign affairs, security and economy are “indivisible” and require strong centralization, even under any potential future federal system.

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Al-Shar’a made his remarks during an expanded meeting held in Latakia (northwest), in which he participated via video link, amid rising popular movements rejecting partition and ongoing security disturbances recently witnessed in coastal areas.

The president stated that “Syrian geography functions as an interconnected whole, and it is impossible for the coast to become an autonomous authority isolated from the rest”. He described proposals advocating separation or federalism serving “narrow interests” as “a manifestation of political ignorance”.

These statements come as local voices in the coastal region, a former stronghold of the ousted regime, raise separatist ideas, coinciding with similar calls from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the northeast and from Suwayda province in the south.

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Although al-Shar’a pledged to safeguard the cultural, social and political rights of minorities such as Syrian Kurds and Druze, these minorities continue to demand “full federalization”, including control over sovereign institutions.

On Tuesday, several towns and cities in the provinces of Latakia, Hama, Deir ez-Zor and Quneitra witnessed popular demonstrations supporting the Syrian state, affirming national unity and rejecting calls for partition or secession.

These popular movements reflect a clear stance against any attempt aimed at undermining Syria’s social fabric or harming the country’s sovereignty and unity.

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They came a day after protests in Latakia during which two security personnel and a number of civilians were injured by gunfire originating from a neighborhood inhabited by officers linked to the security and military apparatuses of the defunct regime, according to the Ministry of Interior.

The ministry stated that these protests initially appeared to be legitimate but quickly turned into platforms for systematic sectarian incitement seeking to foster division and create rifts within the local community.

It noted that security forces had detected “groups linked to criminal cells belonging to remnants of the former regime, who fueled chaos, incited unrest, attacked police officers, special forces and traffic police, and vandalized several official vehicles”.

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In earlier remarks, the Ministry of Interior’s spokesperson, Nour al-Din al-Baba, accused unidentified foreign entities of attempting to spread disorder in coastal areas by exploiting the protests.

The new Syrian government is working to restore security and pursue remnants of the former regime responsible for destabilizing incidents, especially in the coastal region, which long served as a stronghold for senior officers of the Assad regime.

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