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

“That area has become a safe haven for remnant groups of Da’esh gunmen, who are now hiding in the Rukban refugee camp on the border with Jordan under the protection and sponsorship of United States forces present in the area. In line with its investment in terrorism aimed at prolonging the crisis in Syria, the United States has also sought to release terrorists from Guantanamo prison and send them to Syria, where they have become the effective leaders of the Al-Nusra Front and other terrorist groups. Meanwhile, the Turkish regime continues to support terrorists in Syria. Since day one of the war on Syria, the Turkish regime has trained and armed terrorists, turning Turkey into a hub and a corridor for terrorists on their way to Syria.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“The White Helmets organization was created by British intelligence under a humanitarian cover. It has been proved, however, that that organization is part of the Al-Nusra Front, which is affiliated with Al-Qaida. Despite all those allegations, we remain determined to liberate every inch of our territory without concern for the black banners of terrorists or the theatrics of the White Helmets. In another episode of the terrorist war on Syria since 2011, brutal suicide bombings in July orchestrated by Da’esh rocked the province of Al-Suwayda in southern Syria. It is worth noting that the terrorists behind that attack came from the Al-Tanf area, where United States forces are present.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“That was the case when the United States, France and Britain launched a wanton tripartite aggression on Syria last April, claiming that chemical weapons had been used, but without any investigation or evidence and in flagrant violation of Syria’s sovereignty, international law and the Charter of the United Nations. Meanwhile, those same countries have disregarded all of the reliable information that we have provided on chemical weapons in the possession of terrorist groups that were used by them on multiple occasions with a view to casting blame on the Syrian Government and justifying a predetermined attack against it. The terrorist organization known as the White Helmets was the main tool used to mislead public opinion, fabricate accusations and come up with lies regarding the use of chemical weapons in Syria.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Although some Western countries are constantly trying to politicize that organization’s work, we have always cooperated with the OPCW to the fullest extent possible. Unfortunately, every time we express our readiness to receive objective and professional investigative teams to investigate the alleged use of chemical weapons, those countries have blocked such efforts because they know that the conclusions of the investigations would not satisfy them given the ill intentions they harbour against Syria. Those countries have ready-made accusations and scenarios to justify aggression against Syria.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“I therefore appeal from this rostrum to the international community to fight the ideology of terrorism and violent extremism and prevent it from getting support and financial resources, and to implement the relevant Security Council resolutions, notably resolution 2253 (2015). The military battle against terrorism, while important, is not enough. Terrorism is like an epidemic: it will return, break out and threaten everyone without exception. We fully condemn and reject the use of chemical weapons under any circumstances, wherever or whenever it occurs and regardless of the target. That is why Syria completely eliminated its chemical programme and fulfilled all its commitments to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), as confirmed by numerous OPCW reports.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“In conjunction with the international initiatives that I have referred to, local national reconciliation is well under way. Reconciliation agreements have stopped the bloodshed and prevented destruction in many Syrian areas. They have restored stability and normal life to those areas, allowing their people to return to the homes that they were forced to leave because of terrorism. Reconciliation will therefore remain our priority and our focus. The battle we have fought in Syria against terrorism has not only been a military one; it has also been a battle between the culture of destruction, extremism and death and the culture of construction, tolerance and life.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“We also stress that no preconditions or foregone conclusions should be imposed on the committee and its recommendations. The committee must be independent, given that the Constitution and anything relating to it is a Syrian matter to be decided by Syrians themselves. We will not, therefore, accept any proposal that constitutes interference in the internal affairs of Syria or might lead to such interference. We underscore that the Syrian people must have the final word regarding any constitutional or other matter relating to sovereignty. We also reaffirm our readiness to work actively with countries friendly to the Syrian Government to launch the work of the committee along the bases and parameters that I have just mentioned.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“However, it has always been the other parties that have set obstacles, rejected dialogue and resorted to terrorism and foreign interference. Nevertheless, we continue to adopt a positive attitude towards the outcomes of the Syrian national dialogue in Sochi on the formation of a committee to review the current constitution. We have presented a practical and comprehensive vision on the composition, prerogatives and working methods of that committee, and submitted a list of representatives on behalf of the Syrian State. We stress that the mandate of the committee is limited to reviewing the articles of the current Constitution through a Syrian-led and Syrian- owned process that may be facilitated by the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“In parallel with achieving progress against terrorism, as well as in reconstruction and the return of refugees, we are keen to advance the political process while maintaining our constant principles, namely, to preserve the sovereignty, independence and unity of the territory and people of the Syrian Arab Republic. The Syrian people have the exclusive right to determine the future of their country without any external interference and free of terrorism in the Syrian territories. Based on those constant principles, we have expressed time and again our readiness to respond to any initiative that could help Syrians to end the crisis. We have engaged positively and openly in the Geneva talks, the Astana process and the intra-Syrian national dialogue in Sochi.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“That applies to those who stayed in Syria and to those who were forced to leave as a result of terrorist acts. We welcome all of the initiatives of States and parties that did not engage in the aggression against Syria and were clear and explicit in rejecting terrorism to help the Syrian Government in the reconstruction process. We underscore once again that the friendly countries that stood by our side against terrorism have priority in participating in the reconstruction programmes. As for the countries that offer only conditional assistance to engage in the reconstruction process or continue to support terrorism, they are basically neither invited nor welcome.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Although we have called upon the international community and humanitarian organizations to facilitate the return of refugees, some Western countries — as a complement to the dirty role they have played since the start of the war in Syria — continue to obstruct the return of those Syrian refugees to their country. They are spreading fears among refugees under false pretexts and politicizing that purely humanitarian issue, using it as a bargaining chip to serve their political agenda and linking the return of refugees to the political process. Today, as we are about to close the last chapter of the Syrian crisis, Syrians are determined to come together, erase the traces of that terrorist war and rebuild their country with their own hands and experience.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“From this rostrum, I would like to stress that the return of each and every Syrian refugee is a priority for the Syrian State. Doors are wide open for all Syrians abroad to return voluntarily and safely. I underline that what applies to Syrians inside Syria also applies to Syrians abroad. Everyone is under the law. Thanks to the help from the Government of the Russian Federation, the Syrian Government will spare no effort to facilitate the return of those refugees and meet their basic needs. Therefore, a special coordination body has been established to coordinate the return of refugees to their places of origin in Syria and to enable them to rebuild their normal lives.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Are we going to defend international law and the Charter of the United Nations and be on the side of justice? Or are we going to succumb to hegemonic tendencies and the law of the jungle that some are trying to impose on this Organization and the world? Today, the situation on the ground is more stable and secure thanks to the progress made in combating terrorism. The Syrian Government continues to rehabilitate the areas destroyed by terrorists and restore normal life. All conditions are now present for the voluntary return of Syrian refugees to the country that they had to leave because of terrorism and the unilateral economic measures that targeted their daily lives and their livelihoods. It is true that thousands of Syrian refugees living abroad have started to return home.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“One axis promotes peace, stability and prosperity across the world, advocates for a culture of dialogue and mutual understanding, respects international law and upholds the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other States. The other axis tries to spread chaos in international relations and insists on employing colonization and hegemony as tools to further its narrow interests, even if that means resorting to dirty methods such as supporting terrorism and imposing economic blockades in order to subjugate peoples and Governments that reject external dictates and insist on making their own independent national decisions. What happened in Syria should have been a lesson to those countries, but they refuse to learn. That is why we, the Members of this Organization, must make clear and unequivocal choices.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“However, that coalition has done everything but fight terrorism. It has even proved that the coalition’s goals were in line with those of terrorist groups, namely, spreading chaos, killing and destruction. The coalition destroyed the Syrian city of Raqqa, destroyed infrastructure and public services in targeted areas and massacred civilians, including children and women, all of which constitute war crimes under international law. On the other hand, the coalition has provided direct military support to terrorists on multiple occasions as they fought against the Syrian army. It should have been more aptly named the coalition to support terrorists and commit war crimes. The situation and its dimensions in Syria cannot be divorced from the conflict raging between two axes on the world stage.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Despite those achievements, we are determined to continue the sacred battle until we purge all Syrian territories of terrorist groups, regardless of their names, and any illegal foreign presence. We will pay no heed to any aggression or external pressure on us, or to any lies or allegations that seek to discourage us. That is our duty and a non-negotiable right that we have exercised as we eradicated terrorism from most of the Syrian territories. The Governments of certain countries have denied us our right under international law and our national duty to combat terrorism and protect our people on our land and within our own borders. At the same time, those Governments have founded an illegitimate international coalition led by the United States under the pretext of combating terrorism in Syria.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“However, Syrians have refused to compromise and succumb to terrorist groups and their external supporters. They have stood their ground and remained defiant, fully convinced that their struggle is a battle for their existence, their history and their future, from which they will ultimately emerge victorious. To the disappointment of some, we are here today, more than seven years into the dirty war against my country, to announce to the world that the situation on the ground has become more secure and stable, and that our battle against terrorism is almost over. That is true thanks to the heroism, resolve and unity of the Syrian people and the army, and to the support of our allies and friends.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“I would like to congratulate you, Madam President, and your country, Ecuador, on your election as President of the General Assembly at its seventy- third session. I wish you every success. I would also like to thank your predecessor for his role in steering the work of the Assembly during the previous session. I thank as well the Secretary-General of the United Nations for his efforts pursuant to the Charter. Every year we come to this important international forum carrying hopes and wishes that every place in this world will have become more secure, stable and prosperous. Today, our hope is greater than ever, as we are confident that the will of the people will eventually triumph. Our hope and confidence are the result of more than seven years of hardship during which our people have suffered from the scourge of terrorism.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“The Syrian people have stood their ground against all odds because they know that this war has been waged to eliminate their country and, with it, their very existence. Theirs is an example to follow for any people facing — today or in future — similar attempts to break their will and deny them their freedom and sovereignty.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“I am confident that, when the unjust war on Syria is over, the Syrian Army will go down in history as the army that heroically defeated — with the help of supporting forces and allies — terrorists who came to Syria from many countries and received broad support in the form of weapons, funding, training, access and political cover from the most powerful countries in the world. Those terrorists have tried and failed to impose their backward ideology on a peaceful nation that was once a cradle of civilization. For generations to come, history books will recount the achievements of the Syrian people and their dedication as they countered a barbaric terrorist campaign and fought unfair measures designed to compound their suffering and deprive them of their basic requirements.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“That world will remain a fantasy as long as certain countries maintain the belief that they can foment chaos and mayhem and force their will upon the world with full impunity. With its resolute people, its courageous Army and the support of its loyal allies, my country is steadily marching towards the goal of rooting out terrorism. The liberation of Aleppo and Palmyra, the lifting of the siege of Deir ez-Zor and the eradication of terrorism from many parts of Syria prove that victory is now within reach.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“As Syria will need the efforts of every Syrian in the near future, the Syrian Government has made their return to their homes a top priority. To this end, the Syrian Government has embarked on a mission to liberate and secure areas occupied by terrorists and improve the basic living conditions of all Syrians. Given that the United Nations has failed to uphold its own Charter and the principles of international law, all of us must consider reforming the Organization so that it can play its role effectively and defend legitimate rights from the law of the jungle that some are trying to impose. Our nations are yearning for a safer, more secure, stable and prosperous world.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“That is why those countries have imposed a stifling economic blockade against Syria in blatant violation of international law, with a view to destroying the livelihoods of Syrians and increasing their suffering. These unilateral, coercive measures have been thrust upon vital sectors, most notably health-care services. Syria used to have an advanced health-care system. However, today, Syrians are denied access to many types of medicine, even those needed to treat life-threatening conditions, such as cancer. Sanctions such as these are a clear sign of certain countries’ hypocrisy as they shed tears over the suffering of Syrians while in fact practicing a more surreptitious form of terrorism. The refugee problem is one of the consequences of terrorism.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“We have declared more than once that it is impossible to fight terrorism without coordinating with the Syrian Government. It is the only way to make real gains in the war on terrorism. Any presence of foreign troops on Syrian territory without the consent of the Government is considered a form of occupation, wanton aggression and a flagrant violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. The war that the most powerful countries and terrorist groups are waging against Syria is not just a military war. It has taken other forms, no less brutal or aggressive, in order to break the will of the Syrian people and punish them for their firm support of the Army as it strives to defend Syria’s political independence and territorial unity.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“The Syrian Government has urged the Council to implement its own resolutions on counter-terrorism, in particular resolution 2253 (2015), and prevent the Global Coalition from committing even more crimes against the citizens of my country. While the Global Coalition has failed to make any meaningful progress against the terrorist group ISIL, the Syrian army, together with its allies and friends, has been able to secure real and significant gains and drive terrorists out of large parts of the Syrian desert. In what was considered a strategic achievement, the Army was recently able to break the siege inflicted by ISIL on the city of Deir ez-Zor and its people more than three years ago. This achievement will significantly improve the humanitarian situation in the city and contribute to the fight against terrorism in general.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“The so-called Global Coalition against Da’esh, created three years ago, allegedly to fight terrorist groups such as ISIL, and led by the United States, has killed many more innocent Syrians, mostly women and children, than terrorists, and has destroyed vital infrastructure that Syrians had worked for years to build. It has also flagrantly used phosphorus bombs and other internationally prohibited weapons for all the world to see. We cannot understand the silence of the international community in the face of these crimes. The international community has not condemned or sought to stop these crimes even though the Syrian Government has repeatedly appealed to the Security Council to assume its main responsibility of maintaining international peace and security.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“And, as we have done with regard to every accusation of this kind, we confirm our readiness to receive and cooperate with United Nations investigation teams. Certain countries have boasted about fighting terrorism in Syria and having the interests of Syrians at heart. They have established coalitions and held dozens of conferences under deceptive titles, such as the Group of Friends of the Syrian People. It is quite ironic that these same countries are shedding the blood of thousands of Syrians through their support for terrorists, bombing innocent civilians and destroying their livelihoods.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“For more than six years, the States and parties that were behind the war in Syria have continued to peddle lies and falsely accuse the Syrian Government of using chemical weapons despite the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons confirmation that Syria has fully eliminated its chemical programme. This is proof enough of an ill-conceived intention to tarnish the true image of the Syrian Government in the eyes of the international public and to come up with new excuses for continued aggression against Syria, which naturally favours the terrorists and their supporters. So it was when the United States blatantly attacked the Shayrat air base, claiming that it contained chemical weapons used in the alleged Khan Shaykhun attack.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Coordination between the Israel and the terrorists was at its highest point when terrorist groups decided to target Syrian air-defence assets that are used to defend Syria against Israeli aggression. The unlimited Israeli support provided to terrorists in Syria does not come as a surprise. After all, they share the same interests and goals. Let me be clear, however: it is delusional to believe even for a moment that the crisis in Syria will make us forget our inalienable right to fully recover the occupied Syrian Golan to the lines of 4 June 1967.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“Absolutely no one can deprive the free Syrian people of their will to build the future of their country. For decades, Israel has continued its unscrupulous, thuggish actions with full impunity. This usurper entity has occupied Arab territories in Palestine and the Golan for more than 70 years and has committed horrific crimes against innocent civilians. Israel has not stopped there; it has publicly interfered in the Syrian crisis since its earliest days, providing all forms of support, including funds, weapons, materiel and communications equipment, to the most visible terrorist gangs. Israel has also bombed Syrian army positions in service to terrorist agendas.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“In the absence of a genuine national opposition that could be a partner in Syria’s future and as countries with influence over the other parties continue to block meaningful progress, this process has yet to bear fruit. It is truly unfortunate that among the countries blocking a solution in Syria are members of this international Organization and even permanent members of the Security Council. The Syrian Government has always insisted that any solution in Syria must respect the country’s non-negotiable principles, its red line for all Syrians. These principles include the complete rejection of terrorism, the unity of the territory and the people of Syria, and the rejection of any outside interference in political decisions involving Syria’s future. Only Syrians have the right to make such decisions, whether now or in future.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“So far, under President Erdoğan, Turkey has continued to pursue its aggressive policies against the Syrian people and laboured under the illusion that terrorism will help serve its subversive agendas in Syria and other countries of the region. Turkey’s position stands in stark contrast to the positive and constructive role played by Russia and Iran. Notwithstanding its commitment to the memorandum on the creation of de-escalation areas in the Syrian Arab Republic, Syria reserves the right to respond to any violation by other parties. Syria also stresses that the de-escalation zones are a temporary arrangement that must not violate the territorial unity of Syria. The Syrian Government reaffirms its commitment to the Geneva process and to making further progress on this track.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“However, all these initiatives eventually failed because States sponsoring terrorism persisted in their decision to pursue aggressive policies against Syria and its people. With regard to the Astana and Geneva tracks, the Syrian Government has shown how serious and committed it is by doing its best to provide the conditions necessary for these efforts to succeed and for their goals to be achieved. We are encouraged by the Astana process and the resulting de-escalation zones, and we hope that it will help us to achieve an actual cessation of hostilities and separate terrorist groups such as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Jabhat al-Nusrah and others from the groups that have agreed to join the process. This will be the real test of how committed and serious these groups and their Turkish sponsors are.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“The success of reconciliation at the local level would not have been possible without the leadership, political support and numerous amnesty decrees issued by President Bashar Al-Assad, which allowed everyone who had taken up arms to lay them down and resume their normal lives. These successful acts of reconciliation have allowed tens of thousands of internally displaced persons and refugees to return home and helped to improve the living conditions of a great number of Syrians who had fallen victim to terrorist crimes. Syria is determined to scale up its reconciliation efforts wherever possible, as this is the best way to alleviate the suffering of Syrians and restore stability and normality. Since the very first day, the Syrian Government has considered all initiatives to put an end to the war with an open mind.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“We must all understand that terrorism and the underlying extremist takfiri ideology will continue to spread like a tumour throughout the world and haunt our peoples unless every one of us demonstrates a genuine will to cooperate and confront it together. Any such endeavour must respect the sovereignty of States and the interests of the people, and it must set aside the illusion that terrorism can be used as a tool for political gains and narrow interests. On the political front, since the early months of the crisis the Syrian Government has spared no effort to stop the bloodshed.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“It has targeted innocent people, services, infrastructure and cultural heritage, and yet Syria is more determined than ever to eradicate terrorism from every part of the country without exception, relying on the selfless sacrifices of our army and the dedication of our people. Since the beginning of the war, our State policy has followed two main tracks: combating terrorism and working towards a political solution that will end the bloodshed and restore stability. On the counter-terrorism front, the Syrian Arab Army, along with its supporting forces and allies, is making daily achievements in clearing out terrorist-occupied territories and removing the terrorists themselves. Nevertheless, the threat of this plague persists as terrorists claim the lives of Syrians on a daily basis and deplete the country’s resources.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“These countries falsely believe that they can use terrorism as a tool to satisfy their greed and further ill-conceived agendas that do not serve the interests of any people, let alone their own. No people have suffered as greatly at the hands of terrorism as the Syrian people, who, for six years now, have fought against terrorism pouring in from all over the world, with the support of parties from across the region and beyond. For more than six years, Syrians have endured the worst conditions and made the greatest sacrifices in order to defend their country in a terrorist war of unprecedented brutality that has spared nothing and no one.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“There is a persistent stand-off between two sets of forces — one that strives to control and dominate nations and their riches by seeking to turn back the clock, re-establish a unipolar world order, fuel chaos and war and violate international humanitarian law, and one that, in opposition, is working tirelessly to create a more balanced, secure and just world, respecting the sovereignty of States and the right of peoples to exercise self-determination and build their own future. As we meet again, many people continue to pay dearly with their lives, losing the security, stability and livelihoods they once had, as a result of policies forced upon them by certain countries.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“I would like to begin by congratulating Mr. Miroslav Lajčák on his election as President of the General Assembly at its seventy-second session and wish him every success. I would also like to thank his predecessor for the important role he played at the helm of the General Assembly during the seventy-first session. I congratulate Mr. António Guterres on his appointment as Secretary-General and wish him all the best in carrying out his responsibilities in service of the purposes and principles of the United Nations as set forth in the Charter. As we meet again, our world is facing challenges and dangers that are mounting on a daily basis.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“In closing, we wish Member States and their peoples lasting security and prosperity. We hope that our Organization will be able to regain public trust around the world by upholding the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, which calls for respecting the sovereignty and independence of Member States and ensuring non-interference in their internal affairs. That principle, if implemented, would lay the foundations for genuine and fair relations among nations after the greed and arrogance of some have shaken them to their core.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“We have always called for creating a WMD-free zone in the Middle East. In fact, we have efficiently and responsibly eliminated all chemical weapons in Syria, in cooperation with the Joint Mission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations. In that regard, Syria reiterates its readiness to continue its cooperation with the Joint Investigative Mechanism, as well as to continue the relevant Syrian investigations. We congratulate Cuba and Iran on reaching agreements to lift the embargoes imposed on them, and we look forward to their implementation. We renew our call for removing the illegal economic measures imposed on the Syrian people and other independent peoples in the world, notably the peoples of the Democratic Republic of Korea, Venezuela and Belarus.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“The United Nations should also compel Israel to allow the Palestinian people to enjoy their inalienable rights, including the establishment of their own independent State, with Jerusalem as its capital, and the return of Palestinian refugees to their land, in accordance with internationally recognized resolutions. Syria reaffirms that Israel’s aggressive policies threaten not only Syria, but the region in general, especially given Israel’s nuclear arsenal. We have stressed time and again the need to compel Israel to join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and other treaties on weapons of mass destructon (WMDs) and to subject its nuclear installations to the oversight of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Syria stresses the right of States to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Our Syrian Arab people in the occupied Golan continue to suffer as a result of Israel’s oppressive and aggressive practices. Those practices are no longer confined to the occupied Golan but are currently affecting the security and life of Syrians in the southern part of the country. Israel is directly intervening militarily to assist the terrorist organizations operating in the area in every way. Syria calls on the international community to put an effective end to all such practices and compel Israel to implement the relevant United Nations resolutions, particularly Security Council resolution 497 (1981) on the occupied Syrian Golan.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“We will spare no effort to that end, including in cooperation with the United Nations, despite all the difficulties that we are facing as a result of the systematic destruction by externally supported terrorist organizations, and despite the unilateral coercive economic and financial measures imposed on the Syrian people by the very parties that falsely claim to have the interests of the Syrian people in mind. Such unilateral measures have adversely affected many vital sectors, including health care, education and energy. Today, while Syria is confronting mercenary terrorists on its territory, it has long confronted a different kind of terrorism — the terrorism of Israel, which has occupied a precious part of its land in the Syrian Golan since 4 June 1967.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“At the same time, the same countries continue to support and arm the terrorists who are besieging civilians in the same areas, from the inside, using them as human shields and preventing the delivery of or confiscating humanitarian aid. Make no mistake — no one is more committed than the Syrian Government to ending the suffering of the Syrian people and providing them with a life of dignity, wherever they may be and without exception. That is a duty and not a favour.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Once the new Constitution had been approved by Syrians through a referendum, parliamentary elections would follow and the new Government would be formed under the new Constitution. It is truly regrettable that some are exploiting the humanitarian tragedy and suffering of Syrians, especially in terrorist-held areas, and politicizing such suffering to achieve certain goals that have nothing to do with humanitarian principles or the interests of the Syrians themselves. Some countries continue to shed crocodile tears over the situation of the Syrians in some areas, accusing the Syrian Government of employing a policy of sieges and starvation.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Despite all the hurdles created by the regional and Western States that have sided with the self-proclaimed Syrian opposition, we have always been open to a political track that would stem the bloodshed and end the prolonged suffering of Syrians. We reiterate our commitment to moving forward on the Geneva track, under the auspices of the United Nations. We recall our constructive position with regard to the political solution. Such a solution must be based on respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Syria and the unity of its people. It should begin by establishing a government of national unity comprising representatives from the Government and the opposition, in all its factions, and tasked with establishing a constitution-drafting committee.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Since the onset of the crisis in 2011, the Syrian Government has declared that any solution must follow two parallel tracks: a counter-terrorism track, and a political track through an intra-Syrian dialogue that allows Syrians to determine the future of their country without foreign interference. All solutions dictated from the outside are categorically rejected by the Syrian people. Likewise, no political solution will succeed unless the necessary foundations and conditions for its implementation have been laid, including intensified counter-terrorism efforts and progress in the national reconciliation process — a strategy which has proved successful in a number of areas around Syria.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“This cowardly aggression clearly proves that the United States and its allies are complicit with Da’esh and other terrorist armed organizations. We also reiterate our condemnation of the Turkish incursion into Syrian territories under the pretext of countering terrorism. That flagrant aggression must be stopped immediately. Terrorism cannot be fought by replacing one terrorist organization with another. One cannot but wonder how a State that has been the main entry point for terrorists and weapons into Syria can claim to be fighting terrorism. How can there be genuine and effective international counter-terrorism cooperation while relevant Security Council resolutions remain dead letters?”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Without such coordination, any action would be considered a breach of sovereignty, a flagrant interference and a violation of the purposes and principles of the Charter. Without such coordination, any action will fall short of achieving real results and will even make matters worse. In that regard, the Syrian Government condemns in the strongest possible terms the attack launched by American warplanes on a Syrian Army site in the vicinity of the Deir ez-Zor airport on 17 September. That attack allowed ISIL to gain control of the site. The Syrian Government holds the United States fully responsible for that aggression, because facts show that it was an intentional attack, and not an error, even if the United States claims otherwise.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)