Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa promised Thursday to hold a “national dialogue conference” in his first address to the nation since the fall of ousted leader Bashar Assad.

Sharaa, who was appointed interim president a day earlier for an unspecified transitional period, vowed to preserve “civil peace” and Syria’s territorial unity.

“We will announce in the coming days a committee charged with preparing the national dialogue conference, a direct platform for discussions, to listen to different points of view on our future political program,” Sharaa said in the prerecorded televised address.

Sharaa also committed to issuing a “constitutional declaration” to serve as a “legal reference” during the country’s transition, following the suspension of the old constitution.

He vowed to “pursue the criminals who shed Syrian blood and committed massacres and crimes,” whether they were in Syria or abroad, and to establish “real transitional justice” after Assad’s fall.

The speech followed a visit by Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who emphasized the “urgent need” to form an inclusive government during a meeting with Sharaa, according to the Qatari royal court.

The emir’s trip to Damascus was the first by a head of state since rebels seized power less than two months ago. It also follows a visit by Qatar’s prime minister this month.

The emir “stressed the urgent need to form a government representing all spectrums” of Syrian society to “consolidate stability and move forward with reconstruction, development and prosperity projects,” the royal court statement said, congratulating Sharaa on his appointment.

Syria’s new authorities on Wednesday said Sharaa had also been tasked with forming a transitional legislature. They announced the dissolution of all armed groups involved in Assad’s overthrow, as well as the former government’s army.

A transitional government had previously been appointed to steer the multiethnic, multiconfessional country until March 1.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said discussions with the Qatari delegation touched on reconstruction in the country, which has been devastated by nearly 14 years of civil war.

Regional congratulations

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan congratulated Ahmed al-Sharaa on assuming Syria’s presidency for the transitional period, WAM reported. Moreover, Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan also sent similar messages.

Saudi Arabia’s king and crown prince on Thursday congratulated Sharaa on assuming Syria’s interim presidency.

Riyadh was key to returning Assad’s Syria to the Arab League in 2023, after openly championing his overthrow following Damascus’ 2011 crackdown on pro-democracy protests, which sparked war.

“We are pleased to express our congratulations on the occasion of your assumption of the presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic in the transitional phase,” King Salman said in a cable, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent a separate cable also offering his congratulations, the statement said.

Last week, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister visited Damascus, promising help to secure the lifting of international sanctions imposed during Assad’s rule.

Shaibani traveled to Riyadh early in January for his first official trip abroad and also visited Qatar during a regional tour.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II also congratulated Sharaa on Thursday, wishing him “success in leading Syria and serving its people.”

Amid a flurry of diplomatic activity, a delegation from Russia, a close ally of ousted leader Assad, visited this week, while foreign ministers or senior officials from countries including France, Germany, and Turkey have also been to Damascus.

Syria’s Defense Ministry said Thursday that a high-level Turkish military delegation also visited the country.