December 17, 2024
Thank you, Special Envoy Pedersen and Under-Secretary-General Fletcher, for your briefings and also for your recommendations. And thank you, Bader Jamous and Waad Alkataab for your powerful statements, and your relentless efforts to advance peace and security in Syria for the Syrian people.
Colleagues, at long last, the Assad regime has fallen, and the Syrian people are seeing their first glimpse of freedom in decades and our experiencing their first glimmer of hope. That includes thousands of political prisoners, who have spent years and years locked away by the regime.
Syrians like Qasem Sobhi Al-Qabalani, who shared his story with the BBC last week. Qasem was arrested by the regime in 2016 and eventually sent to Saydnaya, tothe prison, which has been described as a “human slaughterhouse.” There, he was subject to unthinkable horrors, including torture.
And after so much abuse, it was nearly impossible for him to imagine his release. But now, Qasem is free and feels like he has been granted a new lease on life.
Colleagues, all of Syria – all of Syria has a chance for a new beginning. This is a historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria to build a better life.
After more than a decade of conflict and corruption, their needs are extensive. And the United States is committed to mobilizing global support.
Last week, Secretary Blinken, together with our partners in the Aqaba Joint Contact Group, announced a set of principles that will help guide international efforts to support the Syrian people as they write their next chapter. And let me be clear: it is theirs to write.
It would be a waste of this historic opportunity if one tyrant were toppled only to see a new one rise up in his place.
Therefore, we fully support a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political transition in the spirit of Resolution 2254 that will lead to credible, inclusive, and non-sectarian governance for the benefit of all Syrians as we heard stated by Mr. Pedersen earlier today.
Together with our partners, we will engage with Syrian groups to support an independent and sovereign Syria that respects human rights, including the rights of minorities and women, and that upholds international humanitarian law.
The U.S. and our partners also agreed that Syrian state institutions should deliver essential services to its people.
Colleagues, in recent days, we have seen the emotional scenes of missing and disappeared family members being reunited with their loves ones. Determining the fate of missing Syrians and foreign nationals is of vital importance. Because while Qasem and thousands of others are now free, so many families are still in the dark.
That includes the loved ones of U.S. citizen Austin Tice, who was taken captive more than 12 years ago. We will not rest until Austin is home. And we are pressing all parties in Syria to help make this happen.
The United States appreciates the work of civil society groups; the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism; and Commission of Inquiry, which continue to document regime violations and abuses.
As the Independent Institution on Missing Persons’ (IIMP) mission has never been more crucial, we encourage the Secretary-General to appoint a head of the IIMP as soon as possible.
Our support and funding of this work must continue.
Colleagues, the regime may have fallen, but the dire humanitarian needs of millions of Syrians remain as you have heard from all of our speakers today.
In addition to ensuring unhindered access from neighboring countries and throughout Syria, we call for additional financial support for UN agencies and aid organizations. This includes additional contributions to the Syria Recovery Trust Fund.
I’ve often spoken about the Syrians forced to flee the violence and destruction of the regime. Now, so many refugees are eager to return home and help rebuild their country.
Many displaced Syrians in host countries still require protection and basic services. Indeed, some Syrian refugees and asylum seekers may be even more vulnerable. And so, all states must uphold their obligations to refugees.
Colleagues, just as Syria’s leaders should no longer pose a threat to their own people, Syria should have peaceful relations with its neighbors.
The United States will continue to support Syria’s neighbors, including Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Türkiye, and Israel, should any new threats arise from Syria during this period of transition.
Preventing these threats requires that Syria cooperate with efforts to secure and destroy its remaining chemical weapons stockpiles consistent with its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention and Security Council Resolution 2118.
We seek assurances of Syria’s commitment to cooperate with the OPCW in this regard.
Finally, there is a strong international consensus that Syria must not be used as base for terrorists, such as ISIS.
That requires securing detention facilities and displaced persons camps in northeast Syria, which hold nearly 9,000 ISIS fighters, and that means continuing to repatriate detained and displaced foreign nationals.
As the United States maintains our mission against ISIS, there should be no doubt: We will fully defend and protect U.S. personnel and U.S. military positions in northeast Syria.
Colleagues, for so long, it might have seemed that Assad’s violent, repressive tactics would pay off, that his grip on power was unshakable. Especially since Russia did everything in its power to prop up Assad’s brutal regime.
And unlike what we heard the Russian PR say about supporting the Syrian people, Russia actually targeted Syrian civilians, Russia obstructed cross-border humanitarian assistance, and now, Russia is offering safe haven to Syria’s deposed dictator.
But Russia’s and Assad’s campaign of cruelty ultimately failed. The regime has fallen. And Syria has a chance for a new beginning.
Going forward, we must demonstrate the Council’s unity in support of the Syrian people.
For even as we are clear eyed about the challenges ahead, we are determined to stand with the Syrian people. We are determined to stand with the Syrian people as they write what we hope will be a peaceful and prosperous next chapter.
Thank you very much.