Video: 1st speech by Ahmed al-Sharaa as #Syria President

Priorities are “filling the power vacuum, preserving civil peace, and building state institutions”

Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose rebel faction led #SyriaLiberation from #Assad regime, named President of #Syria

Dissolution of Assad-era Parliament, formation of appointed legislative council, and cancellation of 2012 Constitution

All armed factions disarmed and now part of national military

#Syria Government hosts first #Russia delegation since #Assad fall

#Kremlin delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister and #Putin special enovy

Almost 3-hour discussions include status of Russian air and naval bases in western Syria

#France Foreign Minister: #EU likely to lift sanctions on #Syria energy and transport sectors and on financial institutions

EU foreign policy head Kallas recommending move for stabilization

Foreign Minister: "New #Syria" hopes to follow in the footsteps of economic powers like Singapore and Saudi Arabia

"Big challenge is economic sanctions. We inherited a lot of problems from #Assad regime"

Pledges inclusion and rights for minorities and women

Int'l Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan meets #Syria's leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus

Discussion of accountability for crimes committed during rule of #Assad regime

Video: In 16-min interview, #Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa discusses campaign to oust #Assad regime, his view of the "new Syria", and the transitional process

Analyst H.A. Hellyer: "He's making clear: his struggle as a militant is over. Something else subtly being said: his type of Islamism has fundamentally changed"

#Syria Foreign Minister joined by reps from 9 Arab States; 5 European countries as well as #EU; US; #Turkey; UN envoy to Syria; Arab League and Gulf Cooperation Council

Discussions of recovery, political transition, and lifting of #Assad-era sanctions