21 May 2025
Thank you, Mr. President,
We welcome your participation in this meeting, Mr. Foreign Minister Gerapetritis.
I thank Special Envoy Pedersen and Director Rajasingham for your briefings.
Mr. President,
Summer is right around the corner, and as a new season begins, the first six months of a new chapter for Syria draws to a close.
It has been a seismic shift, as you said Mr. Foreign Minister, and many important changes have happened, as we also heard from the Special Envoy.
Now the positive statements of the last six months must be followed up with concrete action to meet the expectations of the Syrian people.
With this in mind, let me make three points:
First, the security situation needs to be improved. Reports about continued sectarian violence, in particular involving Alawites and Druzes including killings of civilians are deeply alarming.
We condemn any such attacks, and we call on the Syrian transitional government to clearly condemn them in word and in deed. In this respect we look forward to seeing the conclusions from the fact-finding committee as well as a proper follow up to ensure accountability.
Accelerating the political process and making the process genuinely inclusive is the only way to channel grievances into politics and away from violence.
Accountability for past atrocities will counter calls for revenge and contribute to the prevention of new violence.
We welcome the appointment of a Transitional Justice Commission and a Commission on Missing Persons.
The next step should, as mentioned by the Special Envoy, be a selection of members of a legislative assembly that credibly represents all segments of society as well as engaging with civil society to create a truly inclusive political process in line with resolution 2254.
We voice our full support for the UN and Special Envoy Geir Pedersen in assisting this transition.
Second, genuine security for Syria also necessitates peaceful relations with Syria’s neighbours.
Recent dialogue between Syria’s transitional government and Lebanon about longstanding border issues and refugees create hope for a better future for both countries.
The signing of an MoU with Jordan just yesterday is also a positive development.
Similarly, outstanding issues in Southern Syria and the occupied Golan Heights must be solved through diplomacy, not military means, as also mentioned by the Special Envoy.
We reiterate our call for the full implementation of the 1974-agreement by all parties.
In the wider region, last week’s meetings in Riyad were important and a signal of strong support to Syria from the GCC-countries. We welcome the United States’ announcement on the lifting of sanctions against Syria.
Yesterday, the European Union also agreed to lift all economic sanctions on Syria. This is historic and gives the Syrian people further opportunity to rebuild and prosper.
This leads me to my third point about the humanitarian situation and reconstruction.
With sanctions being lifted, there are better prospects for improving the humanitarian situation.
Unlocking access to building materials, technologies, and the ability to invest will play a decisive role in the possibilities for reconstruction, including repairing the shattered critical health, energy, and agricultural industry and infrastructure throughout the country.
If managed in an equitable manner, this can help reverse the spiking rates of hunger, poverty, and the overall healthcare gap throughout the country. With millions planning to return home to Syria this reprieve comes at a timely moment.
Mr. President,
As Syrians have experienced tremendous changes these last six months, many challenges still remain.
We appreciate that there are no quick fixes, but after years of suffering, the people of Syria are impatient for change. We support the Syrian transitional government in in this endeavour. And we want to see Syria succeed as you also highlighted, Mr. Minister.
I thank you.