[Today's Prayer] Syrian Interim President Announces 'National Dialogue' in First Speech

Ahmed al-Shara, the Syrian interim president, announced a national dialogue and inclusive approach in his first speech since taking office.

According to AFP, in a video of his speech released on the afternoon of the 30th (local time), President al-Shara said, "I will announce a committee to prepare a 'National Dialogue Conference' within a few days," adding, "This will be a direct forum for listening to various opinions on future political plans." President al-Shara said he would present a 'constitutional declaration' that will serve as the foundation for the rule of law during the interim government.

He also added, "I will pursue those who have shed Syrians’ blood and committed massacres and crimes," and "I will establish true justice during the interim period."

This statement is also interpreted as a response to the West, which is demanding inclusion of political forces and democratic elections.

The previous day, the Syrian Military Operations Command (MOC) announced that it would appoint al-Shara as interim president of the transitional government. It also declared that it would abolish the existing constitution revised in 2012 and disband the People's Council (Parliament) and the former ruling Baath Party.

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HTS was launched as an affiliate of the extremist armed group al-Qaeda, but broke away from al-Qaeda in 2016. After taking power in the transitional government following the ouster of Assad, President al-Shara has been pursuing moderate policies, such as declaring that women will not be forced to wear the hijab.

The United States recently lifted the $10 million (approximately 14.4 billion won) bounty

it had placed on him, leaving open the possibility of improving relations. On the 27th, the European Union (EU) agreed on a 'roadmap for easing EU sanctions on Syria' at a meeting of foreign ministers.

Source: Yonhap News

And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”(Mark 4:30-32)

God, as the long-lasting civil war is finally coming to an end, we hear the news that the foundation of Syria is being re-established, such as abolishing the existing Syrian constitution and establishing a new constitution.

Lord, as the Syrian civil war ends, many Syrian refugees are returning to Syria. We believe that the small seed of the gospel that was sown in Syrian refugees has now grown enough for birds to nest and has covered Syria. May the kingdom of God come upon the devastated land of Syria, and may all Syrian souls rely on the Lord.

Lord, may you lead the Syrian government to establish the constitution and organize the country only by the gospel. Let the Syrian government rule Syria with the gospel of Jesus, the truth, not the logic of this world.

Let the local church in Syria become a church that the gates of Hades cannot overcome. May the church comfort with the gospel the Syrian souls who have experienced death, and serve the countless people in the nations who are going through similar sufferings with the love of Christ. Just as you have called the Syrians as missionaries when they were refugees, may the Syrian church rise up to take on their calling of doing mission!

Let the Syrian people go out to all nations with the love they have received and prepare the way for the Lord’s return, and let us see the history of all nations returning to the Lord through Syria!