22.09.2025 22:51
Interesting moments occurred at the summit held in the U.S. with Syrian leader Shara and former CIA Director David Petraeus as the moderator for the UN General Assembly. Petraeus said to Shara, "Twenty years ago, we were on different sides in Iraq. At that time, you were detained by U.S. forces for five years. Now, you are here as the leader of Syria." Shara responded, "Now we are moving to dialogue."
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is in New York City, USA, to attend the 80th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, answered questions related to the agenda at the Concordia Summit moderated by former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) General David Petraeus.
INTERESTING DIALOGUE BETWEEN FORMER CIA LEADER AND ASSAD
During the meeting, a remarkable dialogue took place between Petraeus and Assad. Petraeus, who placed a $10 million bounty on Assad's head years ago, recalled those days.
"WE WERE ON DIFFERENT SIDES IN THE PAST"
Syrian leader Assad responded to Petraeus's question, "We were on different sides during the time I commanded forces in Iraq 20 years ago... During those times, you were detained by US forces for 5 years. Now you are here as the leader of Syria. Can you tell us how you left that period within Al-Qaeda and reached where you are today?" with the following answer:
"NOW WE ARE ENTERING DIALOGUE"
"We were once in conflict, and now we are entering dialogue. We cannot judge the past by today's rules, nor can we evaluate today by the rules of the past."
"OUR INTERESTS COINCIDE WITH AMERICA"
Assad also stated at the summit that Syria wants to cooperate with the USA, saying, "Our interests coincide with America. We must open a new page for Syria. However, sanctions only increase the suffering of the people. The Syrian people should not be killed a second time by sanctions."