Adib Shishakli's speech to the first session of the House of Representatives following the 1953 elections - 24 October 1953

Honorable Representatives,

 

In the name of God and Arab Syria, I announce the opening of the first session of your distinguished House. I welcome you all and I pray to God to bless this assembly that is being held in the name of the people as a victory of its resolve. I pray that it will bear further glad tidings from the sacred frontiers of our country that are guarded by your sons and brothers against this reckless aggression.

 

My agenda is based on rapid efforts to build a modern state; a real democracy where citizens live in freedom, contentment, dignity, equality before the law in terms of their rights and responsibilities and prosperity; a free and independent country which is not tied by any restriction that limits its sovereignty or jeopardies its interests and those of the wider Arab World.

 

Our long-lasting goals are freedom and prosperity, at home, and peace and Arab sovereignty abroad. We must eliminate ignorance and illness among our citizens and secure their wellbeing; hence, an efficient economic policy that achieves prosperity represents a cornerstone in building a democracy.

 

We must set up an agricultural policy that entails expanding farmland and providing farmers with the funding and support they need to enhance their productivity.

 

Trade is the third key policy that complements agriculture and manufacturing in improving the living standards of our citizens.

 

Distinguished Representatives,

 

Proceeding from domestic affairs to foreign policy, I would like to begin with two determinants that I consider, almost, part of domestic affairs; namely, the Palestinian issue and our relations with sister Arab States.

 

I might be stating the obvious when I declare that the Palestinian Cause will remain unresolved until justice is served. As for our Arab relations, Syria takes pride in being the first Arab state to make liberating and uniting the Arab Nation, part of its Constitution.

 

We see the Arab League as a transition and a formal arena for the accomplishment of attainable steps towards unity, in cooperation with members states on all levels, be it political, military, economic, judicial, or cultural.

 

Beyond the borders of the Arab Homeland, our foreign policy is clear and evident; we are a peace-loving nation that reaches out to those who seek a friendly relation with us, based on mutual respect and common interests, within the common good of the Arab Nation.

 

Syria sees no prospect for real peace prevailing unless the independence of nations and their right of self-determination is respected; hence, its contribution to the Asian Arab Bloc’s efforts in supporting vulnerable nations.

 

Honorable Deputies,

 

I have just set out a general picture of the issues concerning the state of domestic and foreign affairs, the view on potential solutions, and the outlines of the plans to implement those solutions.

 

It might be possible to appreciate the gravity of the burden and the length of the path ahead of us. Each one of these issues requires time for deliberation and devoted effort to devise an appropriate policy to tackle it, while safeguarding the common good of the nation. The people who have elected us to lead them in the right direction, are expecting rapid and sincere actions from us to achieve that. The responsibility that is laid upon us before our conscience, people and history, is huge. Efforts will not be fruitless, and negligence will not be pardoned; let us join forces to fulfil our duties and pray to the Almighty to give us the strength and guide us to the right path. Let us honor the trust that the people have put in us to pursue those goals and fulfil the promises that we have made to them.