Ahmed Ekzayez: "Syria is no longer the land of destruction, but of hope."

BarcelonaAhmed Ekzayez (Idlib, 1983) probably holds one of the most challenging positions in the world: he is Syria's Deputy Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management. Until just over a year ago, he was the program director for the White Helmets, the volunteer organization that, during the fourteen-year offensive by Bashar al-Assad's regime against opposition movements, rescued tens of thousands of people from under the rubble in cities devastated by bombing. Now he does the same work, but from within the new government of Ahmed al-Sharaa, which has assumed control of the country with an iron fist. The Deputy Minister visited Barcelona to participate in a seminar on disasters and resilience, organized by the Union for the Mediterranean.

December 8th will mark one year since the stunning collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime.After more than six decades of dictatorship and fourteen years of civil war, how do you see Syria today?

— We have inherited a country that is literally destroyed. In cities like Deir ez-Zor and parts of Idlib, between 80% and 90% of the buildings are demolished, and some villages have disappeared. The contamination from mines and explosive remnants is very high, preventing displaced people and refugees from returning home and farmers from working the land. And you know that agriculture is the backbone of our economy. We must rebuild the electricity and power infrastructure, and we lack basic materials and equipment. Even the internet connection is so weak that sometimes we can't connect to online meetings. But nevertheless, we are determined, and we know that the Syrian people are willing to work.

They have also inherited a country burdened by a large debt incurred by the dictatorship, which is a significant burden on the economy. Do they have international support in this?

— We have received significant support, especially from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, as well as from Turkey and the European Union. Saudi Arabia has helped alleviate some of the debt, which has allowed us to make progress in our relationship with the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and other institutions. We need billions for reconstruction. That is why we need financing, but also regional cooperation and private investment. Syria has abundant agricultural and energy resources and great economic potential for investors, who can create jobs. Our goal is to move beyond aid and simple relief to building institutions, systems, and sustainable development.

And how is Syrian society participating in this reconstruction?

— Let's not sit idly by waiting for everything to be done for us from the outside. There are community campaigns underway in Idlib, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor, Hama, and soon in Aleppo, to clear rubble and rebuild. The message is clear: building the country is our responsibility as citizens. Civil society has an essential role to play. I come from the NGO world, and I always tell my colleagues that they must be partners with the government, not competitors: they must advise, make recommendations, and participate in policy implementation. The government defines priorities and strategies, but it cannot operate alone on the ground. Local organizations are key to this process.

But many voices in civil society complain that there is no democracy.

— Syria has suffered more than sixty years of dictatorship. You can't jump from a dictatorship to a full democracy overnight; that would be a mistake. Many critics forget that context. We don't currently have the luxury, the resources, the time, or the foundation to implement the democracy we want. We have to move forward step by step. What's important is that there is awareness, a willingness to improve, and an open dialogue with international partners and civil society. I believe that if we were to conduct this interview again in two years, I would see an improvement in the democratic aspect as well.

He previously mentioned his government's new international alliances: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey. But they haven't severed all ties with Russia, one of Assad's main allies, whose military bases his government recently allowed to remain in the country. And what about Iran?

— The relationship with Russia, which predates Bashar al-Assad, dates back to when projects were established that are still managed by Russian companies today. What we ask is that it be an equitable relationship and that it also serve as a learning experience from the past. With Iran, however, the situation is completely different. As a Syrian citizen, I can say that we have suffered greatly because of their role—and also because of Hezbollah and other actors—and that they were responsible for much of the violence on the ground. When we talk about Iran, we are referring to the regime, not the Iranian people. I don't see that regime having any role in the new Syria, neither now nor in the near future.

And as for Israel, it has long been said that the new Syrian authorities will normalize relations, as the United States has asked them to, despite the genocide in Gaza.

Our president and the foreign minister have made it clear that the government is open to collaborating with all countries in the region if it contributes to stability and security. These are our top priorities: building a strong economy and ensuring border security. This should also be of interest to other countries in the region, because Syria's stability directly impacts theirs. The priority for most Syrians today is rebuilding the country and having a strong economy. Many will not forget history or what happened, but it is important to build the future on trust.

There have been episodes of sectarian violence, and your government is accused of disregarding minorities. Are you confident that you will be able to overcome this?

I am optimistic. I know the communities of Deir ez-Zor well, and I believe that, in the end, everyone will once again consider the best interests of Syria as a united country. My message to my Druze, Alawite, and Kurdish brothers and sisters is that we now have a golden opportunity with the current government to build a new Syria. We share the same land: the harm I do to you, I also do to myself, and if you win, I win too. The Assad regime sowed distrust between communities for decades, but we can change that. We all share the same goal: a prosperous, stable, and peaceful Syria for all. Syria is no longer a land of destruction, but a land of hope and shared opportunities.