Syrians contemplate the future of their country after Assad

CGTN Europe

For many Syrians, the past 10 days have been a time of hope and celebration. But for others there’s concern and fear about what is to come.  CGTN Europe’s iolo ap dafydd has the full report

Transcript

00:00Too young to remember a time before President Assad, she's reacting to all the euphoria around her.

00:07Many ordinary people are celebrating such a radical change in Syria.

00:11But Damascus is full of fighters and weapons.

00:14Until now, it's been a remarkably bloodless offensive.

00:18We are very relieved and felt so reassured.

00:21We were scared, terrified and living a nightmare inside a big prison, as if we were inside a big prison.

00:27Thank God. God has granted relief to everyone.

00:30These drone pictures were taken as rebels and residents realized the Assad family had left Damascus.

00:36And this part of a civil war that began in 2011 is over.

00:40They gathered in city squares and in the Umayyad Mosque.

00:44The people of Syria experienced the joy they deserve after all the sacrifices and all the destruction.

00:51The Syrian people deserve to live with freedom and dignity.

00:54And they paid the price with blood and sacrifices.

00:58Millions of people have had their lives changed and lost their homes.

01:03Most of them are thought to need some kind of humanitarian help.

01:07I hope that within this current environment, that obviously there will be this inclusive, very inclusive dialogue

01:17that involves, we always talk about women, peace and security,

01:20that involves women, that involves young people, that involves each and every segment of the Syrian society

01:27to forge a vision for the future of the country.

01:30Neighboring countries are watching the political development across a still divided Syria.

01:35The main faction, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, that drove the rebels forward is Islamic in its nature.

01:41Deep divisions remain as various parts of the country are held by different entities.

01:46There are Sunni Muslims and the Shia Alawites.

01:49Kurds control the northeast and are still fighting remnants of the Islamic State, IS group.

01:55Turkey, with a long border north of Syria, supported some of the rebels and would like less insecurity.

02:02In the coming process, we hope for a Syria where different ethnic and religious groups live together

02:07under an inclusive and understanding government and in peace.

02:11We want to see a new Syria that will have good relations with its neighbors

02:14and contribute peace and stability to this region.

02:17Iran's ambassador to Syria, Hossein Akbari, has also been talking,

02:21questioning the speed of change and how the army was beaten so quickly.

02:25To the south, Israel promises it will withdraw its tanks and troops from Mount Hermon, inside Syria,

02:31and fall back inside the occupied Golan Heights once security is in place.

02:37For now, many Syrians have a sense of more freedom,

02:41combined with some trepidation over what lies ahead.

02:45Yoloabdavit, CGTN.

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