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

“In our view, the needed reforms are those that are now due, many elements of which have been already met. They are a work in progress that will continue through national dialogue and in the context of national unity, sovereignty and independence. To shed more light on the situation, I would recall at this juncture the statement made by President Al-Assad on 20 June. In his statement, the President announced many reform measures based on the following new laws: the political parties act to guarantee political pluralism; the information act to lay the ground for free and independent media; the parliamentary elections act and the local administration act. The proposed reform measures were to be finalized by a thorough examination and review of the Syrian Constitution.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Our 53 11-51384 overriding priority was to address external pressures that at times were tantamount to blatant conspiracy. On the other hand, popular demands and needs have been manipulated to further objectives alien to the interests and expressed desires of the Syrian people. Those demands have become stepping stones used by armed groups to sow discord and to sabotage our security, eventually becoming a new pretext for foreign intervention. Syria has assumed its responsibility to protect its citizens through actions to guarantee safety and stability. It remains vigilant against the danger of foreign intervention, which takes on different forms with each passing day. Challenging that does not diminish our concern for popular demands that were already accommodated prior to the recent events.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Again Syria summoned all of its might to overcome such a policy, despite the exorbitant price we had to pay at the expense of our domestic priorities and interests. We emerged stronger from that battle, having preserved our independent decisions and safeguarded our national priorities. There are two sides to the problem that Syria faces today. On the one hand, the country needs people-driven political, economic and social reform. President Bashar Al-Assad has already declared that those reforms are needed and timely. He has expressed a strong desire to accomplish them. But the force of the political circumstances to which I briefly alluded to earlier forced internal demands — important as they were — to take a back seat to other priorities.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Syria has spared no effort in support of the legitimate struggle of the Palestinian people and in championing resistance movements. Syria has upheld its inalienable right to liberate the entire occupied Syrian Golan to the line of 4 June 1967. At the same time, Syria has extended a hand of friendship to all States and established its international relations based on mutual respect and mutual interests. Through leverage, it has promoted the centrepiece of Syria’s national priorities and established policies, namely on the Middle East question, in efforts to liberate the land and restore the rights of the people. Syria was dragged into another confrontation following the occupation of Iraq. It had to choose between enduring political siege and isolation or submitting to demands.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“At the same time, they are influenced by repercussions and the price they have to pay, whether high or low, resulting from positions they take in response to those issues. The Syrian Arab Republic is located at the heart of the Middle East region. Syria’s location has determined its major role in the politics and balances of the Arab world and the region in general. For many decades, Syria faced major challenges and difficulties with a firm stance against attempts to limit its role and influence and divert it from the national course it had charted. It is no secret that Syria has stood firm in support of national sovereignty and independence in its national decisions — a position that has remained a primary pillar of Syrian foreign policy.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Allow me to congratulate Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser on his election to the presidency of the General Assembly at this session. I wish him every success in his efforts to promote the interests of our international Organization. I also pay tribute to his predecessor, Mr. Joseph Deiss, and express to him our gratitude and appreciation for his successful presidency of the Assembly last year. It is only natural that I should start by addressing the current situation in Syria, our position in that regard and the circumstances and events unfolding inside and outside of our country. There is no doubt that States’ positions and circumstances are governed by their geopolitical realities, related problems and demands stemming therefrom.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“This home is besieged by an ominous phenomenon, climate change, which entails tragic consequences for humanity. This year was only a prelude to what is yet to come. We sincerely hope that the Cancún conference will be the herald of a direly needed rescue effort.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The painful situation in Pakistan, a typical symptom of climate change, is yet another example of the devastating disasters that we must expect unless we work seriously and collectively to address this grave situation. The people and Government of my country, Syria, wholeheartedly sympathize with Pakistan and other disaster-stricken countries. I stress the urgent need for States to increase assistance to Pakistan, both in cash and in kind, to mitigate the tragic and widespread damage there and prevent any further exacerbation of the situation. We aspire to a better, more just and secure world and look forward to strengthening and revitalizing the role of the United Nations and guaranteeing respect for international law. We must not forget, though, that our planet Earth is home to the world we are aspiring to build.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Many countries have chosen to ignore the warnings of scientists and the ominous signals from nature. We must rise to this serious challenge and assume our historic responsibility, so as to make up for past imbalances and shortcomings. 21 10-55264 We look forward to an expression of international solidarity in Cancún, Mexico, based on scientific evidence and on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. It is our hope that the Cancún outcome will take into account the priorities of sustainable development in order to arrive at a comprehensive and legally binding post-2012 framework agreement. We believe that it is extremely important to address the shortcomings of Copenhagen and to renew the commitment to the Bali Action Plan and the premises of the Kyoto Protocol.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“In that context, we are grateful to the State of Qatar, the League of Arab States and the African Union for their efforts. We also appreciate and support the African Union’s efforts in settling disputes in the Sudan and other conflict zones on the African continent, and in promoting Africa’s role within the international system. We also strongly reiterate our call to lift the embargo that has been imposed on Cuba for decades. The world has suffered numerous natural disasters this year resulting from climate change and global warming. We all know that these disasters are but a prelude to more severe and wider-scale calamities that could well threaten natural life on this planet. We have an obligation towards nature, yet we have exceeded all limits in abusing it.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We often wonder why some States talk about the universality of the NPT but hasten to make strenuous efforts to shelter Israel from the Agency’s oversight. They are encouraging Israel to continue to develop its nuclear military programme, which is a cause of concern to the people of the region. Furthermore, this policy of double standards runs counter to the non-proliferation prerequisites, not only in the Middle East region, but also in the world at large. We reaffirm that all States have the right to acquire nuclear technology for peaceful uses, as guaranteed by the NPT. We also call for the peaceful resolution of all disputes relevant to this aspect through dialogue. Syria follows the developments in the Sudan because we are dedicated to the Sudan’s unity, sovereignty, security and stability.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Syria is willing to cooperate with Iraq in every aspect to serve Iraq’s interests and the common interests of our two fraternal countries. My country has been advocating the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East since 2003, a demand we included in a draft resolution we presented to the Security Council at the time. We continue to stress that Israel must be made to comply with international decisions calling on it to adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and to submit its nuclear installations to the comprehensive International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards regime. Israel’s accession to the Treaty is of extreme significance for the security and stability of our region.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We have called for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Iraq. In this context, the partial withdrawal of the American forces from Iraq constitutes, in our view, a positive first step in the direction of Iraq’s assumption of its power over its own affairs and the restoration of its full sovereignty over its territories. We hope that Iraq will ultimately develop strong military and security capabilities to safeguard its internal security and safety as an independent and sovereign State. It should be reiterated that Iraqi security is contingent upon its national unity and is based on its Arab-Islamic identity and the principle of the participation of all segments of Iraqi society in building their country’s present and future.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We look forward to the conclusions to be drawn from the report of the international commission now that the necessary legal grounds and supporting evidence have been established by the Human Rights Council’s fact-finding mission. Syria is a fraternal Arab neighbour of Iraq. For us, Iraq thus remains a subject of interest and a cause for concern, particularly when the situation there deteriorates. We embrace any improvement in conditions there with a major sense of relief. The restoration of Iraq’s full sovereignty and independence, the preservation of its Arab and Islamic identity, the unity of its people and its territorial integrity are of utmost priority for our approach towards Iraq and its future. Undoubtedly, national unity remains the cornerstone of a secure, prosperous and strong Iraq.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The occupied Syrian Golan is not negotiable nor is it a bargaining chip. Recognition of 10-55264 20 the fact that it must be returned fully is the basis on which peacemaking arrangements should be made. Syria is ready to resume peace negotiations from the point where they stopped, through the Turkish mediator, if it finds in Israel a partner committed to the terms of reference of peacemaking, and if that partner has the political will to achieve peace. We note with satisfaction the objective opinion of the report of the Human Rights Council fact-finding mission investigating the Israeli attack on the freedom flotilla that was headed to Gaza on an exclusively humanitarian mission (A/HRC/15/21).”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Through settlement activities, actions and declarations concerning Jerusalem, Israel pursues a fait accompli policy on the basis of which it imposes its will regardless of whether negotiations continue or stall. Peace can be genuine only if there is a genuine will to make peace. That is the litmus test. Political manoeuvres during negotiations under the umbrella of the desire for peace strain and exacerbate the situation and may make it more volatile and explosive. Syria seeks a just and comprehensive peace achieved through the implementation of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), and the Arab Peace Initiative. Our position has been known and declared for years. We have the will to make peace and we are the masters of our decision, which is unwavering.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The world has declared that it is determined to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East, and has stressed that peace is an urgent prerequisite for the maintenance of security and stability in the region. In Israel, there is much talk about peace, yet the drums of war continue to sound. Land appropriation for settlement-building goes on unabated. Peace negotiations, we are told, are currently under way on the basis of the two-State solution, but settlement activities are about to make this two-State solution a dead letter that stands no chance of survival. Israel is intensely pursuing its Judaization plans for Jerusalem in order to depopulate it of its Palestinian inhabitants. Israeli actions threaten the safety of Jerusalem’s holy sites.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Therefore, our door remains open for an in depth and meaningful dialogue aimed at reconciling differences with others and reaching common ground on the basis of which progress can be made. That was our response when Syria endured attempts to isolate and blockade it, a response we reaffirm today as Syria discharges its role as a major player in matters related to the security and stability of the region. We believe that civilized international relations must be built on openness and dialogue as opposed to insularity, isolation, confrontation and aggression. This is our approach, which we hope will prevail in a world driven by multiple interests and perspectives, overwhelmed by problems and complications, yet at the same time sustained by hopes and noble visions.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The policies, interests and trends that have unfolded on its soil have converged at times but clashed at others. Due to its geographic location, the Middle East influences neighbouring countries in Asia, Europe and Africa and is, in turn, influenced by them. Syria, which lies at the heart of the Middle East, has experienced these tensions, policies, events and outcomes and has reacted to them. This fact — which has spelled both positive and negative consequences for the Syrian Arab Republic — prompted us to define our perspective in addressing external issues, particularly the nature of our international relations. Safeguarding and sustaining Syrian and Arab interests is our priority.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Allow me to congratulate Mr. Joseph Deiss personally, as well as his country, Switzerland, on his election to the presidency of the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly. His experience and competence qualify him to ably discharge his responsibilities, and I wish him every success in his endeavours. I also thank his predecessor, Mr. Ali Abdussalam Treki, and extend to him and his fraternal country our appreciation for his skilful stewardship of the work of the General Assembly during the previous session. I would also like to express to the Secretary-General our appreciation and wishes for success in fulfilling the tasks entrusted to him. The Middle East region has been rife with tensions for many decades. It has survived major events and numerous wars.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We therefore call on all Member States to work seriously to ensure compliance with the Charter of our international Organization and to introduce the necessary reforms in order to promote it, learning from the lessons of past decades and from our achievements and failures. We sincerely look forward to a world governed by respect for international law in which security, stability and prosperity reign supreme.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“The world’s poor end up paying a higher price for a breakdown that is not of their making. Rich States are therefore duty bound to provide all forms of support to poorer countries to help them overcome this crisis. Poor countries have earned this support, and any positive results that it generates will serve the interests of poor and rich countries alike. We also call for the increased participation of developing countries in the work of the Group of 20, which would enable them to put forward proposals and advance appropriate responses to overcome the crisis. We and many others have often called for an enhanced and reinvigorated role for the United Nations in order to build a better, more just and more secure world. We believe that the present moment is auspicious.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Very few countries, if any, have been spared its devastating effects. This crisis led many to question its root causes, shedding light on the deficiencies in the financial system and its practices and thus highlighting the sound practices that could have prevented the crisis. The world cannot deal with the crisis as a fait accompli. We must seek answers and outcomes that endorse sound practices and remedy systemic imbalances that are bound to affect us all in the globalized world in which we live. Our common goal is to establish a more secure economic and financial world order. It goes without saying that the countries of the South have disparate economies and are comparatively more disadvantaged and adversely affected by the current crisis than those of the North.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Today Syria stresses the need for Israel to commit to complying with the resolution of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) adopted on 18 September of this year regarding Israeli nuclear 09-52598 26 capabilities (GC(53)/RES/17), in which the Agency called upon Israel to place its nuclear facilities under comprehensive IAEA safeguards and to accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). We recall once again the right of all States to acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, as guaranteed by the NPT. We fully support constructive dialogue as a means to settle all differences. The world is still reeling from a crippling economic and financial crisis that has adversely affected the economic and social conditions of most countries of the world.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“We urge them to work towards the unity of Somalia, which as the supreme national interest should take precedence over any other consideration, and to lay the foundations for security and stability in their country. We support the efforts of the African Union to settle the existing conflicts that continue to plague some parts of the African continent, to achieve development in the countries of Africa and to promote the African role in the international system. We also renew our call for the lifting of the blockade imposed on Cuba for more than half a century. For years, Syria has been calling for the establishment of a zone free of all weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East region. To this end, Syria tabled a draft resolution before the Security Council in 2003 calling for the establishment of such a zone.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Attempts to undermine the Sudan’s unity and to compromise its security and sovereignty are also a cause of concern for us. We fully support the Sudan and its leadership and stress the need to create favourable conditions conducive to a settlement of all pending issues. In that regard, we appreciate the efforts made by the State of Qatar in cooperation with the League of Arab States and the African Union. Another cause for concern is the events unfolding in Somalia, a country already afflicted by war and internal strife. We call on our brothers there to work for national reconciliation and to use dialogue as a means of settling their differences.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“These claims and the ensuing developments are extremely unfortunate and cannot serve the interests of Iraq or Syria. We are open to suggestions on how to solve the current crisis by demanding that real evidence be made available to substantiate those claims. This has not yet been done. We stress that protecting the Iraqi people and safeguarding their interests is one of our priorities. We are also keen to safeguard the fraternal relations between the Iraqi and Syrian peoples and express our satisfaction at the current efforts of Turkey and the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States. We have followed with grave concern the recent developments in Yemen. We hope that security will ultimately prevail. We support Yemen’s unity, stability and the prosperity of its people.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“We have stressed our readiness to facilitate that withdrawal by extending our cooperation in maintaining security in Iraq. It is our hope that Iraqis will soon be able to arrive, through constructive dialogue, at solutions that firmly support Iraq’s unity, strength and prosperity while remaining fully dedicated and loyal to the unity of the land of Iraq and its people. Syria has been dedicated to strengthening bilateral Syrian-Iraqi relations in all their aspects. We established a bilateral council for strategic cooperation in various fields. We were distressed by the recent “Bloody Wednesday” terrorist bombings in Baghdad, which we strongly condemn. But we were surprised to hear, days later, accusations levelled at us — accusations devoid of any truth — implying that we harboured those suspected of masterminding those bombings.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“The situation in Iraq is a cause for serious concern to us as a neighbouring Arab country. We have continuously stressed the urgency of preserving the unity of Iraq’s territory and people while guaranteeing its sovereignty and safeguarding its independence and its Arab-Islamic identity. To that end, it is urgent to build Iraqi national unity on the basis of national reconciliation, which must include Iraqis of all stripes. Iraqi national unity is the cornerstone of the reconciliation process, but it will remain elusive unless the necessary conditions for national reconciliation are achieved. We have continuously condemned all aggressive acts that claim the lives of innocent victims in Iraq. We have also repeatedly called for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Iraq and for the restoration of full Iraqi independence and sovereignty.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“But the absence of genuine political will to make peace and the war of aggression that the Israeli Government waged against Gaza brought this pursuit to a halt. 25 09-52598 In full view of the world and in defiance of its unanimous will, Israel has chosen to be a rejectionist State. It has chosen to challenge the international community. This is a dangerous position and a stance that threatens peace and security in the region. The continued occupation, the Judaization of Jerusalem, the intensification of settlement activities and the racist slogans presage serious consequences for the world. The world must not succumb to the dictates of Israeli extremists. It must not allow Israel to persist in its violation of international law and its defiance of international will and decisions. Brotherly Iraq continues to bleed.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“The Israeli Prime Minister’s comments on the subject are sheer tactical manoeuvres that are contradicted entirely by the policies pursued by his Government on the ground. President Bashar Al-Assad has said that peace is antithetical to occupation. Peace and occupation cannot coexist. He stressed that we in Syria seek a just and comprehensive peace and that peace is our strategic choice. It is a choice based on the implementation of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), the Madrid terms of reference, the principle of land for peace and the Arab Peace Initiative. We have supported every effort aimed at achieving this goal. To that end, we entered into indirect talks with Israel through Turkish mediation and sought to arrive at common ground that would ultimately enable us to launch direct negotiations.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Perhaps more than ever before, Israel has now revealed its true colours: an entity that has enshrined racism, aggression and tension-building while balking at peace and repudiating the advocates of peace. Israel refuses to freeze illegitimate settlement building and is thus in breach of its obligations under international law. Israel continues to confiscate Palestinian land, build the apartheid wall, Judaize Jerusalem, expel inhabitants from their homes and bring in settlers to replace them. This list is in no way exhaustive. These facts are substantiated by figures but, in the interest of time, we shall not dwell on them in detail. Suffice it to say that the two-State solution advocated by the international community has been rejected by the Israeli Government.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Addressing this issue has become a priority, and has been followed by immediate action on the ground. This is certainly reassuring. It is our sincere hope that these efforts will bear fruit. But the engagement by the new United States Administration, the members of the Security Council, the European Union, the Organization for the Islamic Conference and the Non-Aligned Movement has been continuously confronted with Israeli measures and positions that ignore the most basic underpinnings of the peace process. Israel defies the policies of its friends and allies and undermines their will. Israel also challenges the will of the overwhelming majority — if not the entirety — of the international community.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“It had no qualms about committing internationally prohibited acts or breaching international law, encouraged and protected by the Administration of former United States President Bush. To date, Israel continues to impose a stifling siege on Gaza, in contravention of the most basic humanitarian principles and tenets of international humanitarian law. These facts have been confirmed by many investigations, and were most recently published in the report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict. The head of the Mission concluded that Israel had committed grave violations of human rights law, and international humanitarian law, including war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity. The international approach to the Middle East question has changed in previous years.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“We come here every year and stress from this very rostrum, as do many others, that the Middle East is one of the most tense regions of the world and that the situation is extremely ominous. From this very rostrum, most speakers stress that a just and comprehensive peace is an urgent requirement for the realization of the interests of all parties in the region and the world at large. However, paying lip service to the need for peace is obviously different from working for peace. Actions inside and outside the region have spoken louder than words, and peace has remained elusive for years. During that time, Israel waged two devastating wars against Lebanon and Gaza.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Allow me to congratulate the fraternal Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and you personally, Mr. President, on your election to the presidency of the General Assembly at this session. I wish you success in your endeavours, and succeed you will, given your vast experience and competence. I also extend our deep appreciation to your predecessor, Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, for successfully steering the work of the sixty-third session; I recognize his positive stand vis-à-vis the fundamental issues with which the international community is seized. I also wish the Secretary-General every success in his undertakings as he seeks to fulfil the purposes and principles of our international Organization.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“The Charter of our international Organization, in which States of different perspectives and interests enjoy equal membership, has set forth formulas that remain valid and could be used to build a world in which justice reigns supreme, based on mutual understanding — a world free from the threat of terror and in which there is no place for inciting hatred among cultures and religions. Promoting those values, principles and objectives and using them as guidelines for our work will serve the interests of peace and A/63/PV.13 08-53122 20 stability in the world and contribute to the good of humanity at large.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Closing the door to dialogue and imposing isolation, unilateral sanctions and diktats have never been successful tools in the exercise of sound international relations. Contrary to claims made from this very rostrum a couple of days ago, all attempts at isolation are doomed to failure. Respect for the principle of democracy in international relations that takes into account the vision and interests of all States, large and small, will contribute to the realization of security and stability in the world and help it solve the problems it faces.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“How can we overcome terrorism if we continue to conflate terrorism with the right of the individual to live on his land, free from occupation or threat of war and aggression? We call upon all States to cooperate in the fight against terrorism. We particularly stress the need to avoid confusing terrorism with fundamental rights, because doing so gives terrorism an opportunity to strike. Experience demonstrates that unilaterally dictating the world’s political agenda is wrong. The wars and the financial and food crises raging throughout the world today require us to work together to address that malfunction by seeking to engage all regional and international stakeholders through active diplomacy and dialogue as the means to settle controversial questions.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We appreciate Russia’s positive response to the efforts of France in its capacity as President of the European Union to arrive at a settlement of the crisis that will guarantee regional stability and spare the world a revival of the international relations that prevailed in the past. Much has been said about the war on terror. Years after waging that war, some issues still prompt us to ask: Is terrorism less widespread today than it was before? Can we claim to have prevailed over that extremely dangerous phenomenon? Accusing countries of sponsoring terrorism for ulterior political motives is a desperate attempt by those promoting those claims to justify the failure of their approach. The right approach requires us to address the root causes of terrorism.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“In that context, and in line with our principled position, we call for declaring the Middle East a zone free from all weapons of mass destruction. Similarly, we recall the draft resolution that Syria submitted to the Security Council on 29 October 2003. At the same time, we stress the need to compel Israel to dismantle the hundreds of nuclear warheads in its possession, to submit its nuclear facilities to the safeguards regime of the International Atomic Energy Agency and to accede to the NPT. The crisis that erupted in the Caucasus region was an extremely ominous event. It is impossible to ignore its dimensions and repercussions on international relations. By now, we know who sowed its seeds and are aware of the provocative acts associated with it, prompting Russia to exercise the option it chose.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) guarantees the right of all States to possess nuclear technologies for peaceful purposes. Much has been said about the Iranian nuclear issue, with some advocating a diplomatic solution while others promote the use of force. Meanwhile, Iran has time and again stressed that it is solely dedicated to the peaceful uses of nuclear power. Deep mistrust between Iran and its interlocutors complicates matters and prevents the stakeholders from reaching an understanding. We seek a political understanding of the Iranian nuclear issue. Any other option is not in the interests of any of the stakeholders and will only inflict catastrophic losses on the region and the world.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The initiative called for establishing an Arab ministerial committee under the chairmanship of Qatar and entrusting it with overseeing comprehensive peace talks between the A/63/PV.13 19 08-53122 Government of the Sudan and the armed groups in Darfur. The committee would sponsor those negotiations in cooperation and coordination with the international mediator of the African Union and a United Nations representative. It would also seek to improve the humanitarian situation and to promote development in Darfur. Syria, a member of the committee, calls on all States concerned and on the international community to support the committee in its efforts to fulfil its mandate. In that regard, Syria welcomes the normalization of relations between the Sudan and Chad as a positive contribution to the solution of the Darfur question.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The two countries also agreed to entrust to their respective authorities the task of continuing to work together to control their common borders, fight smuggling, undertake the necessary measures to promote trade, create the conditions for economic integration and establish a common economic market. Syria supports efforts aimed at guaranteeing the Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity and promoting peace and stability in that country. In that context, we are completely opposed to the decision of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and call on the Security Council to suspend it with a view to creating favourable conditions for pursuing the initiative endorsed by the Council of Ministers of the League of Arab States on 9 August 2008.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Despite unfounded claims to the contrary, we have consistently supported all measures that could assist the Lebanese in arriving at consensual solutions built on dialogue and the affirmation of national unity. During the recent visit of the Lebanese President Michel Sleiman to Syria, we declared that we had jointly decided to establish diplomatic relations between our two countries with a view to maintaining and supporting mutual, deep and wide-ranging relations and interests between our two fraternal peoples. We also agreed to resume the work of the joint Lebanese-Syrian border demarcation commission in accordance with mechanisms and priorities to be agreed upon by the two parties.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“It is regrettable that the abnormal circumstances that prevailed in Iraq as a result of the United States invasion in 2003 have prompted a great number of Iraqis to leave their country in pursuit of safety and security. Syria hosts many Iraqi brothers and sisters. Therefore, we are deeply aware of the humanitarian crisis that has forced Iraqis from their country and exacerbated the situation in their country. We hope that an improved security situation will permit all Iraqis to return to Iraq. We in Syria are pleased that the situation in Lebanon is being resolved after the conclusion of the Doha Agreement, which enabled the Lebanese to elect a consensual President, establish a Government of national unity and initiate a national dialogue.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We have always stressed the need to preserve the unity of the people of Iraq, its territorial integrity, non-interference in its internal affairs and the need to preserve its sovereignty, independence, its Arab and Islamic identity, and to oppose the calls to divide it. We have repeatedly declared that the solution in Iraq begins with national reconciliation built on the principle of respect for the will of all Iraqis. We have reiterated the need for foreign troops to withdraw from Iraq in line with agreements reached with the Iraqi Government. We have always condemned all terrorist acts committed in Iraq, resulting in the deaths of many innocent civilians. We believe that the stability that Iraq longs for requires an Iraqi consensus to overcome the obstacles barring its realization.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“It also requires the American will to include peace in the Middle East on its list of priorities after years of deliberately ignoring and dodging the question, which has exacerbated the situation in the region. Syria stresses once again its firm and consistent support for the Palestinian people’s rights to recover their occupied land and establish their independent State with Jerusalem as its capital. Syria underlines the need to restore Palestinian national unity through national dialogue and is working towards that end in its capacity as the current Chair of the Arab Summit. The Iraqi situation is a matter of prime concern to Syria because Iraq is an Arab fraternal country and because, as a neighbouring country, we are affected by the negative and positive developments there.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Has Israel stopped building settlements in the occupied Arab territories? Despite all that, given that the withdrawal of Israel from our occupied Golan to the line of 4 June 1967 and making peace are Syrian national priorities, and notwithstanding the circumstances to which I just referred, we entered into indirect negotiations with Israel, with commendable mediation by Turkey. As President Al-Assad said, we wanted the negotiations to establish the grounds and pave the way for direct negotiations that would ultimately be sponsored by many international parties. Peacebuilding requires, however, genuine Israeli will that is capable of accommodating the exigencies of peacemaking.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“By convening the Quartet Summit, Syria stressed that a just and comprehensive peace is its strategic choice and that it is striving to attain it in cooperation with regional and international partners who share its vision. The realization of peace requires all of those who have a direct stake in the matter, or those who have the power or who can influence the outcome, to evince the necessary political will. A/63/PV.13 08-53122 18 Years after the will to build peace lost its priority status in the policies that influence the situation in the region, we were asked to go to Annapolis. We all went to Annapolis, despite the ambiguity of the undertaking. We wonder what Annapolis achieved. Where exactly do we stand? Have the Annapolis promises to establish a Palestinian State before the end of the current year been fulfilled?”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)