YouSaid · the spoken record

Walid AL-MOUALEM

lines on the record: 283
first: 2006-09-24
most recent: 2020-09-24
sittings or episodes: 15
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“President, Syria renews its support for the Islamic Republic of Iran against the US policy aimed at undermining the nuclear agreement and destabilizing the region. Such policy reflects the US administration’s disregard for international law and their obligations under international agreements. Syria also condemns the unjust economic embargos on Cuba and Venezuela. We stress that the sovereign rights of these nations must be respected, and we reject any form of interference in their internal affairs. Thank you.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“President, As a matter of principle, Syria reiterates our steadfast support for the right of the Palestinian people to establish their own independent state, with Jerusalem as its capital, along the lines of 4 June 1967. Refugees must be guaranteed the right to return to their homeland in keeping with international law and relevant UN resolutions. We condemn the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories. We hold countries supporting Israel responsible for the implications of these crimes. Any decisions, steps, or deals that run counter to relevant UN resolutions and violate Palestinian rights are untenable and void in form and in substance. Mr.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Some have even supported Israel and perpetuated the occupation. This is yet another sign of the hypocrisy of these countries who only champion human rights when it suits them politically. That being said, it is delusional to think that the difficult situation we face in Syria could change the fact that the Golan has and always will be part of Syria, and we will not rest until recover it fully, up to the borders of 4 June 1967. This issue is not subject to any bargaining, blackmailing, or statute of limitations. No illegal Israeli action and no US decision will change anything at all. They are null and void and carry no legal effect under international law and relevant UN resolutions, notably Security Council resolution 497 (1981). Mr.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Since the committee was formed and started its work, it has become the Master of Itself. It is up to the committee to decide its methods of work and its recommendations. The whole process from A to Z must be exclusively Syrian-led and Syrian-owned. Syrians have the sole right of determining the future of their country. Mr. President, Israel persists in its systematic and grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the Syrian Golan, occupied since 1967. These include settlement construction, racial discrimination, arbitrary detention, torture, and looting of the Golan’s natural resources. Over the past few years, Israel has also supported terrorists and launched repeated attacks on Syrian territories. It is worth noting that, as these violations continue, the so-called international community has remained silent.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“I would also like to thank our allies and friends for their valuable support and assistance in this noble fight. Mr. President, The Syrian government has always engaged in the political process. We have participated openly in talks in Geneva, consultations in Moscow, and meetings in Astana. We have dealt positively with the outcomes of the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi, including the formation of a committee to discuss the constitution. We have had serious and constructive conversations with the Special Envoy for Syria, in the leadup to the formation and convening of the Constitutional Committee in Geneva. We hope that the committee will succeed. Success, however, is only possible if there is no external interference whatsoever in its work and by any party.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“We will not miss the target. Just as our enemies’ policy is one of supporting terrorism, our policy is to decimate terrorism and liberate remaining territories to restore our territorial integrity and protect our people. Timing will depend on the readiness of our armed forces to march into battle. When the battle starts, we will not distinguish between homegrown terrorists and foreign ones. We will not differentiate between terrorists and occupying forces. We will not make a distinction between Zionists, Turks, and Americans. On our territory, they are all enemies.” In this regard, I pay tribute to the Syrian Arab Army for their sacrifices. It was in large part thanks to them that we have been exceptionally successful in our war on terrorism.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“These include syphoning the oil, preventing farmers from selling wheat to the Syrian state, attacking towns and Syrian army checkpoints, and destroying houses and infrastructure. I also condemn the actions of the so-called SDF. These secessionist militias are plotting against Syria’s unity and its people and looting its resources. They detain and kill civilians that oppose them in northeast Syria and assassinate regional figures. My message to them is simple: stand with your country and learn from history before it’s too late. His Excellency President Bashar Al-Assad, president of the Syrian Arab Republic, made our position clear on all of the above, when speaking before the elected members of Parliament: “In the middle of global convulsions and in the throes of chaos, obfuscation, and lies, we will not lose focus.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“President, The continued illegitimate presence of American and Turkish forces on Syrian soil meets all the legal conditions of an occupation. The Syrian Arab Republic will spare no effort to end this occupation by all means possible under international law. The actions of these forces, taken directly or through their terrorist agents, secessionist militias, or manufactured and illegitimate entities, are null and void, with no legal effect. They are a flagrant violation of Syria’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. In this regard, we condemn once again all the crimes of the so-called Global Coalition committed since the start of its illegal intervention against Syrians in the Jazira region.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“By the way, this is the same criminal behavior that terrorists exhibited when they cut the water supply to millions of civilians in Damascus in 2017. Then, just like today, the self-styled human rights defenders did not even lift a finger. To make matters worse, the Turkish regime has failed to commit to the Astana outcomes and the Sochi agreements on Idlib. It has moved terrorists and mercenaries — referred to by some as “moderate opposition” — from Syria to Libya. It has violated Iraq’s sovereignty, used refugees as bargaining chips against Europe, and laid claim by force to energy resources in the Mediterranean. The current Turkish regime has become a rogue and outlaw regime under international law. Its policies and actions, which threaten the security and stability of the whole region, must be stopped. Mr.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“It has facilitated the passage of tens of thousands of foreign terrorists into Syria and continues to provide all forms of support to Al-Nusra Front and its affiliated terrorist groups that have massacred Syrians. It carries out a ‘Turkification’ and forced displacement policies in the territories it occupies in Syria. And in what can only be considered a collective punishment against a million civilians that have rejected the Turkish occupation in Hasakah and a dozen other towns, the Turkish regime has deliberately and repeatedly cut the city’s water supply, endangering the lives of civilians, especially in the COVID-19 pandemic. In legal terms, this amounts to a war crime and a crime against humanity.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“President, We all keep repeating in our statements that terrorism is a constant danger to stability and prosperity across the world and one of the main threats to international peace and security. Unfortunately, some, if not many, do not act on these statements. All relevant Security Council resolutions have yet to find their way from the UN archives to implementation. Our joint actions haven’t risen to meet the threat posed by terrorism. To the contrary, there are those who invest in, support, and fuel terrorism, moving terrorists from one region to another and from one country to another, all in the service of their suspicious agendas. Of course, when it comes to sponsors and financiers of terrorism, the current Turkish regime reigns supreme. The Turkish regime is one of the main sponsors of terror in Syria and the region.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“It is an inhumane attempt to suffocate Syrians, just like George Floyd and others were cruelly suffocated in the United States, and just like Israel suffocates Palestinians on a daily basis. Though the tactics may differ, the essence is the same. Unilateral coercive measures imposed by some countries clearly violate international law. The humanitarian exemptions they repeatedly invoke do not exist on the ground. These are false claims intended to cover their inhumanity and save face. We call on all affected countries and those that reject such measures to close ranks against them and alleviate their impact on our peoples. This should happen through cooperation, coordination, and concrete political, economic, and commercial means. Mr.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
““The Caesar Syria Civilian Suffocation Act” would have been a more fitting name. When the delivery of lifesaving medications and medical equipment is blocked in the middle of a pandemic, does that really protect civilians or does it deprive them of treatment? When efforts to rebuild Syria after the destruction brought by terrorists are obstructed, does that really serve Syrians or does it reduce employment, worsen living conditions, and prevent the return of refugees and IDPs? When wheat fields are burned down, oil fields are looted, and the energy sector is targeted, does that really protect civilians or does it deny them access to food, heating, gas, and electricity? I could go on, but I think it’s clear that the real purpose of the Act is to put pressure on Syrians, their livelihoods, and their daily lives.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“The important question is: will this new reality compel some to put aside their narrow interests and return to the right path? Today’s imperative is that we combat this pandemic together through multilateral joint action, with deeds and not with words alone, to build a more equal world, better equipped to withstand crises and achieve real sustainable development for all. This is what we hope and work towards. Unfortunately, the reality on the ground is the complete opposite. Political agendas continue to take precedence over humanitarian agendas. As the COVID-19 pandemic rages across the world, unilateral coercive measures imposed on Syrian people and other peoples are being renewed instead of lifted. New measures, such as the so called “Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act,” are being added under false pretexts.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“We want a future that respects international law and promotes dialogue and understanding between nations. We need a United Nations that upholds the principles and purposes of its Charter and unequivocally stands against wars and warmongers. We need a United Nations that supports its members while avoiding politicization, illegal interference, and attempts to destroy nations and communities. This is what we have wanted all along. This is what we need today more than ever before. This is more true as we confront COVID-19, which has posed global humanitarian and socioeconomic challenges that have spared no nation. It has created exceptional conditions to the extent that we are forced to address each other today remotely and through pre-recorded statements.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“We are straying further every day from the principles and values that underpin the United Nations and international norms. This is because some governments have illegally imposed their own agendas on other nations and have used the United Nations for the sole purpose of furthering those agendas. Paradoxically, the main theme for this year’s General Debate is “The future we want, the United Nations we need: reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism — confronting COVID-19 through effective multilateral action”. But quite frankly the situation today does not bode well for the future we want, nor does it reflect the United Nations we need. We want a secure and prosperous future, free from terrorism, occupation, and inhumane sanctions.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“The United Nations was born after the Second World War out of a global consensus on the need to maintain international peace and security and to promote friendly relations between nations. These relations were to be based on respect for equality and the right of people to self-determination, without resort to force or the threat of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any nation and in any manner inconsistent with United Nations principles. But where are we in all of this? Do these principles and values truly govern today’s international relations? Or have they become mere talking points for political and media consumption? If we are honest with ourselves, we must admit that the answer is clear.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“We will engage with others, taking into account the interests of our country and our people, in line with our desire to achieve peace, stability and prosperity in Syria and the region. In exchange, those countries that have antagonized Syria must reconsider their positions and correct any mistakes. They must abandon their delusions and let realism and common sense prevail for the common good.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Today we are ushering in a new era that will bring us closer to our final victory in this war. We aspire to a bright and safe future for our people after the long suffering. We are conscious that the various challenges and difficulties that we are facing today or will face in the future are not less ferocious than the terrorism which we have faced. However, we are determined to overcome them. We have always had excellent relations with various countries. We have never sought to antagonize anyone. Today our hand is extended for peace. We continue to promote dialogue and mutual understanding, while staying true to our national constants, which we will never give them up. Of course, there are Governments that have clearly offended Syria and its people. However, we will never hold a grudge or seek revenge.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Syria once again expresses its full solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran against the irresponsible United States measures, in particular the United States withdrawal from the Nuclear Agreement. We also warn against policies that seek to foment crises and conflicts in the Gulf region under false pretexts. We believe that the security and stability of the Gulf can be achieved only through cooperation and dialogue among the countries of that region, without any external interference that could escalate tensions in the region and run counter to the interests of its people. In conclusion, I say that Syria, supported by its allies and friends, has stood firm against the externally supported organized terrorism that has targeted Syria, its people and its culture.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Moreover, it is a delusion to think that the decisions of the United States Administration regarding the sovereignty over the Golan will alter historical and geographical facts or the provisions of international law. The Golan has been and will always be a part of Syria. Israel must be forced to implement the relevant United Nations resolutions, notably Security Council resolution 497 (1981), on the occupied Syrian Golan, and to halt its repeated attacks on the countries of the region and to cease its settlement activities. Israel must be compelled to allow the Palestinian people to establish their own independent State, with Jerusalem as its capital, along the 4 June 1967 borders and to ensure the return of Palestinian refugees to their land.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Such ugly manifestations of this support became extremely clear when the United States decided to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan and, before that, to recognize the occupied city of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and relocate its Embassy there, not to mention the intensive United States efforts to liquidate the Palestinian question. All those decisions are null and void and represent a complete disregard for international legitimacy. Certain people must understand that the era of acquiring the land of others by force has long passed. It is a delusion to think that the crisis in Syria will compel us to give up our inalienable right to fully restore the Golan to the borders of 4 June 1967 by using all possible means under international law.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Instead of working for peace and stability in the region, Israel has launched yet another phase of escalation, fuelling regional tensions to unprecedented levels. Israel not only occupies Arab territories, including the Syrian Golan, but also continues every day to violate international law and human rights law and to support terrorism. It has even launched repeated attacks on Syrian territories and on those of neighbouring countries under false pretexts in flagrant violation of international law, the Charter of the United Nations and relevant Security Council resolutions. Such Israeli violations would not continue to escalate were it not for the blind support of certain countries that are fully responsible for the consequences of Israel’s actions.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“To that end, the Syrian Government is providing the necessary help while rebuilding and rehabilitating the service facilities and infrastructure in their areas that have been liberated from terrorists. However, Western and some other countries of destination for refugees continue to obstruct such initiatives. We have seen a strange change in the position of such countries. Instead of using every opportunity to call for the immediate return of refugees to Syria, as they have always done, those countries are now imposing flimsy conditions and arguments to prevent such returns, using this purely humanitarian issue as leverage to serve their hidden political agendas. It is truly reminiscent of the theatre of the absurd. However, what is happening is a manipulation of the fate of nations and a hideous exploitation of their suffering.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We therefore call on all peace-loving countries that respect international law to come together and adopt effective measures to counter that phenomenon, which not only is used against Syria but also has become a weapon of political and economic blackmail against many other countries in the world. From this rostrum, we once again call for the lifting of such illegal measures imposed on the Syrian people and on all other independent peoples, in particular the peoples of Iran, Venezuela, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Cuba and Belarus. We stand with China and Russia against the unjust United States policies pertaining to them. On several occasions we have emphasized that the doors are open for the voluntary and safe return of all Syrian refugees to their homeland.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Significant progress has been made despite the illegal and inhumane economic blockade that some countries have imposed on our people, limiting access to medical equipment, medicines and oil products necessary for electricity, household gas and heating fuel. The United States of America has even threatened companies that participate in the Damascus International Fair in order to stifle any economic activity in Syria. Having failed to achieve their goals through armed terrorism, those countries have resorted to economic terrorism, which is an equally brutal form of terrorism, by imposing a blockade and unilateral coercive economic measures.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We remain fully committed to making constructive progress based on sound foundations in order to meet the aspirations of the Syrian people. Fifthly, the Special Envoy for Syria must play the role of facilitator of the Committee’s work, using his good offices to bring the views of its members together as required. With those principles in mind, we reaffirm our readiness to engage and work actively with friendly countries and the Special Envoy to launch the Committee’s work. At the same time, Syria is making tremendous efforts to improve the humanitarian situation on the ground and to rebuild what the terrorists have destroyed.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Secondly, the full and strong commitment to fully respecting the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic must not be compromised in any way. Thirdly, no preconditions or conclusions may be imposed on the Committee and its recommendations should not be prejudged. The Committee must be independent. Its recommendations must be made independently without interference from any other country or party, such as the so-called small group, which has declared itself the guardian of the Syrian people and has already prejudged the outcome of the Committee’s work. Fourthly, no deadlines or time frames must be imposed on the Committee. Each step taken must be prudent since the Constitution is to determine Syria’s future generations.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Indeed, it was Syria’s determination to establish the Constitutional Committee upon the persistence of President Bashar Al-Assad that led to this important national achievement for the Syrian people and thwarted any attempt to obstruct it by other parties that have consistently supported foreign forces and imposed preconditions to prevent any return to normalcy in Syria. During his recent visit to Damascus, we reached agreement with the Special Envoy, Mr. Geir Pedersen, on the terms of reference and core rules of procedure of the Constitutional Committee, as well as the principles governing its work. Those include the following. First, the whole process should be owned and led by the Syrians themselves, who have the exclusive right to determine their country’s future, without any foreign intervention.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“The safety of the borders of one country cannot be secured at the expense of the security, sovereignty or territorial integrity of neighbouring countries. Along with our fight against terrorism, we are committed to moving the political process forward. We have continued to participate in the Astana meetings, the results of which have proved to be effective on the ground. We are dealing positively with the outcome of the Congress of the Syrian National Dialogue in Sochi, and the establishment of a committee to discuss the Constitution. To that end, we have engaged seriously and constructively in a dialogue with the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria in forming the committee.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Turkey’s policies, whether in Idlib or in north-eastern Syria, and its multi-track political manoeuvring undermine all the achievements made in Astana. Turkey cannot claim to uphold Syria’s unity and territorial integrity, while at the same time being the first to actually undermine them. If Turkey is truly committed to the security of its borders and the unity of Syria, as it claims to be, it must determine its options. Either it must respect the Astana agreement and the bilateral counter-terrorism agreements between our two countries, in order to guarantee the security of its borders, and withdraw its forces from Syrian territories, or it must choose to be the aggressor and occupier and face the consequences.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Any agreement about any part of Syria without the consent of the Syrian Government is to be condemned and rejected in form and in substance. Moreover, any foreign forces operating on our territories without our assent are occupying forces and must withdraw immediately. If they refuse to do so, we have the right to take all measures against them under international law. In that regard, I would like to briefly mention the terrorist, criminal and aggressive practices of the secessionist militias known as the Syrian Democratic Forces against Syrians in Hasakah, Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor governorates. With the support of the United States of America and international coalition forces, they seek to impose a new reality that serves the agendas of the United States and Israel in the region, prolonging the terrorist war against Syria.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“With the support of some Western countries, the Turkish regime is now rushing to protect the terrorists of Al-Nusra Front and other terrorist groups there, just as it has done every time we confront the terrorists. It is hard to imagine a country directly intervening to protect the Al-Nusra Front of Al-Qaida, the same terrorist group that Security Council resolutions considers to be a threat not only to Syria but also to international peace and security. The United States and Turkey maintain an illegal military presence in northern Syria. They have been arrogant enough to hold discussions and reach agreement on establishing a so-called safe zone on Syrian territory as if such a zone would be created on United States or Turkish soil. That is a violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We have welcomed the memorandum creating de-escalation zones and the Sochi agreement on Idlib in hopes that such steps would complement the efforts to eliminate the Al-Nusra Front and the remnants of Da’esh and other terrorist groups operating in Idlib with the lowest possible loss of civilian lives. We have also announced a suspension of military operations more than once. Meanwhile, the Turkish regime has failed to fulfil its commitments under those agreements, instead providing terrorists with every kind of support, including more sophisticated weapons. Al-Qaida’s Al-Nusra Front controls more than 90 per cent of Idlib, and the Turkish observation points established inside Syria have been used to support them and block the advances of the Syrian Army and its war on terrorism in Idlib.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“However, I should not fail to mention their continuing rocket and mortar attacks on civilian areas close to Idlib and the fact that they use civilians in Idlib as human shields, preventing them from leaving through the Abu Al-Duhur humanitarian corridor that the Syrian Government has opened. What I want to ask the members of the Assembly is whether their Governments would stand idly by and watch if they were faced with a similar situation. Would they ever forfeit their right and duty to defend their peoples and liberate their countries from terrorists and foreigners? The Syrian Government has engaged in political initiatives to resolve the situation in Idlib, and we have allowed more than enough time for them to be implemented.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Moreover, those same States deny us the right to defend our people against terrorists, whom they consider freedom fighters, or against the so-called Syrian armed opposition. However, they seem to have forgotten that if they continue with that approach, terrorism will re-emerge stronger than ever and will threaten everyone, without exception, including its supporters and those who have invested in it. The clearest example of what I am talking about is the situation in Idlib. It is well known to all that Idlib currently hosts the largest collection of foreign terrorist fighters in the world, as is detailed in the reports of the relevant Security Council Committees. The time I have been allotted to speak today is not enough to list all the crimes that these terrorists have committed.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“But while they focus on fighting terrorism and drying up its resources and funding, the problem is that they remain a dead letter. Unfortunately, countering terrorism is not yet a priority for certain countries, which have remained deathly quiet in the face of the brutal terrorism confronting countries like my own. While some of those countries merely issue empty statements, others actually invest in terrorism, using it as a tool to impose their suspect agendas on the peoples and on the Governments that reject their external diktats and insist on making independent national decisions. The situation in Syria is a vivid example of that. Tens of thousands of foreign terrorist fighters have been brought to Syria from more than 100 countries with the support and cover of States that are known to all.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“They have defended civilized values and a culture of tolerance and coexistence against the extremism and the ideology of hatred and death that terrorist groups such as Da’esh, the Al-Nusra Front and their sponsors and supporters are trying to spread. We are determined to continue the war on terrorism in all its forms until we root out the last remaining terrorist on Syria’s land. We will also take every measure necessary to ensure that it does not re-emerge. However, we need genuine international will if we are to put a definitive end to that global nightmare, which haunts us all. We do not need to reinvent the wheel to do that. We already have a large number of related Security Council resolutions adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Despite the extraordinary achievements that we have made in Syria, thanks to the sacrifices and heroism of the Syrian Arab Army and the support of our allies and friends, our people have suffered for more than eight years from that scourge, which has brutally murdered innocent people, caused a humanitarian crisis, destroyed our infrastructure and plundered and ruined our country. History will undoubtedly remember the heroism of the Syrian people in their war against terrorism. Syrians have defended not only themselves, their country and their culture, they have defended the whole of humankind.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Either we work in good faith to build a more secure, stable and just world, a world free of terrorism, occupation and hegemony, a world based on international law and a culture of dialogue and mutual understanding, or despite everything we do nothing, leaving the fate of our people and of future generations uncertain and flouting the purposes and principles set forth by the founding fathers of our Organization. That is the issue that the Assembly must address. Terrorism remains one of the main threats to international peace and security, a danger to all of us without exception.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Violations of international conventions and treaties are commonplace, while the use of illegal means that go outside international law, such as support for terrorism and the imposition of economic embargoes, has got out of hand. All of that only creates chaos around the world and gradually replaces the rule of law with the law of the jungle. It jeopardizes our countries’ future and makes our people pay the ultimate price, sacrificing their security, the lives of their children, their stability and well-being. Today we are at a crossroads.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“I would like to congratulate President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande on his election to lead the General Assembly at this session and to wish him every success in the future. I would also like to thank his predecessor for her important role as President of the previous session. We are meeting today at a moment when the global outlook may seem bleak. The foundations of the international relations system on the political, economic, legal and security fronts are facing threats that are unprecedented in the history of our Organization. Conflicts and threats to international peace and security are on the rise. The prospects for war are far more likely than the prospects for peace. The possibility of a balanced global economy has become uncertain.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Today, as we seek to defeat terrorism, we continue to advocate dialogue and understanding, which serves the interests of our people and helps to achieve security, stability and prosperity for all.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“It is high time for some people to detach themselves from their state of separation from reality, abandon their illusions and come to understand that they will not achieve politically what they failed to achieve by war. We have never compromised on our national principles, even when the war was at its peak. We will surely not do so today. At the same time, we want peace for the peoples of the world — that is the message we are sending — because we want peace for our people. We have never attacked others; we have never interfered in the affairs of others; and we have never exported terrorism to other parts of the world. We have always maintained the best relations with other countries.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“We reiterate our full solidarity with the leaders and the people of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and trust that they will overcome the effects of that irresponsible decision on the part of the United States Administration. In the same context, we also stand with the Government and the people of Venezuela against the attempts by the United States to interfere in their internal affairs. We call once again for the lifting of the unilateral economic measures imposed on the Syrian people and all other independent peoples around the world, especially those of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Cuba and Belarus. In conclusion, I would like everyone to know that Syria, with the help of its allies and friends, will defeat terrorism. We must be treated accordingly.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Any actions that undermine those rights are null and void and can only be rejected, as they threaten regional peace and security, especially the racist Israeli law known as the Nation-State Law and the decision of the United States Administration to move the American embassy to Jerusalem and to stop funding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Syria strongly condemns the decision of the United States Administration to withdraw from the nuclear agreement with Iran, which proves once again that Administration’s disregard for and non-commitment to international treaties and conventions.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Syria demands that the international community effectively put an end to all such Israeli practices and compel Israel to implement the relevant United Nations resolutions, notably resolution 497 (1981), on the occupied Syrian Golan. The international community must also help the Palestinian people to establish their own independent State, with Jerusalem as its capital, and facilitate the return of Palestinian refugees to their land, pursuant to resolutions of international legitimacy.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“We therefore consider that any forces operating on Syrian territories without a request from the Syrian Government — including United States, French and Turkish forces — are occupying forces, which will be dealt with accordingly. They must withdraw immediately and unconditionally. Israel continues to occupy a cherished part of our land in the Syrian Golan, and our people there continue to suffer because of Israel’s oppressive and aggressive policies. Israel has even supported terrorist groups that have operated in southern Syria, protecting them through direct military intervention and launching repeated attacks on Syrian land. However, just as we liberated southern Syria from terrorists, we are determined to fully restore the occupied Syrian Golan along the lines of 4 June 1967.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“We underscore that that agreement is time-bound and includes specific deadlines. It complements the agreements previously reached in Astana on the de-escalation zones. We hope that, when the agreement is implemented, the Al-Nusra Front and other terrorist groups will be eradicated, thereby eliminating the last remnants of terrorism on the Syrian territories. Any foreign presence on Syrian territories without the consent of the Syrian Government is illegal and constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. It is an assault on our national sovereignty and undermines counter-terrorism efforts and threatens regional peace and security.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“When those terrorists failed to serve its agenda, the Turkish regime resorted to direct aggression by attacking many cities and towns in northern Syria. However, all actions that seek to undermine Syria’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and that violate international law will not stop us from exercising our right and duty to recover all our land and purge it of terrorists, whether through military action or local reconciliation agreements. Based on the aforementioned, we have always welcomed any initiative that prevents further Syrian bloodshed and restores security and safety to areas affected by terrorism. That is why we welcomed the agreement on Idlib reached in Sochi on 17 September. That agreement was the result of intensive consultations and full coordination between Syria and Russia.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)