YouSaid · the spoken record

Pedersen

lines on the record: 597
first: 2012-10-15
most recent: 2023-12-21
sittings or episodes: 54
sources: un-security-council

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

“I continue to call for a genuine and sustained calm that all key Syrian and international players work to support, so as to build a nationwide ceasefire; a cooperative approach to addressing the real threat posed by proscribed terrorist groups; and full respect for international humanitarian law. The central importance of protecting civilians and upholding international law was brought home again by the dark commemoration this past week of 10 years since the shocking chemical weapons attacks in the suburbs of Damascus. As Council members know, at present it is difficult to see that conditions are in place to bring about a comprehensive settlement of the conflict.”
2023-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9403 (2023) · source
“The past month saw: air strikes attributed to Israel near Damascus; reports of pro- Government air strikes in north-west Syria, an area which also saw attacks, including attempted drone attacks by listed terrorist group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham on Syrian Government positions, as well as front-line clashes and exchanges of artillery; attacks claimed by Da’esh during the Ashura commemoration near the Sayyidah Zainab shrine and later on a bus carrying Syrian Government forces near Al-Mayadin; reports of strikes on a United States military base in Deir ez-Zor; reports of Turkish drone strikes in north and north-east Syria; an attack by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on a Turkish military base in Azaz; reports of clashes between factions in areas under the control of the SDF; reports of clashes and tensions in the south, in Dara’a, Tafas and As-Suwayda; and a strike by the international coalition on the radical group Hurras Al-Din in Al-Bab.”
2023-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9403 (2023) · source
“It remains critical that any adverse effects of sanctions that could aggravate the predicament of ordinary Syrians be avoided and mitigated. The full use of existing humanitarian exemptions and active engagement by sanctioning States to counter overcompliance are essential. We must not forget that, despite the broad military stalemate since March 2020, the violent conflict continues, causing civilian deaths and destruction on all sides in Syria.”
2023-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9403 (2023) · source
“It is indeed essential that the United Nations and its partners continue providing cross-border humanitarian assistance at the necessary scale and in a principled manner that allows for engagement with all parties for the purposes of seeking humanitarian access and in a manner that safeguards the United Nations operational independence. We also need to redouble efforts to secure sufficient humanitarian resources at a time when funding is more stretched than ever. This year’s humanitarian response plan is funded at 25 per cent, and the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan at roughly 10 per cent. We need support for all pillars, including enhancing early recovery in the humanitarian response plan and for refugees and host countries.”
2023-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9403 (2023) · source
“Let me echo the Secretary-General in welcoming the understanding reached on the continued use, for the next six months, of the Bab Al-Hawa border crossing to deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance to millions of people in need in north-west Syria. I also welcome the extension of authorization for the United Nations to use the Bab Al-Salam and Al-Rai border crossings for an additional three months, as well as consent to cross the lines within Syria at Sarmada and Saraqib for the delivery of assistance for the next six months.”
2023-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9403 (2023) · source
“And that applies to the many other crises that are ravaging Syria: the crisis of displacement, of the detained, abducted and missing, of human rights abuses, of terrorism, of hostilities and violent conflict and of the de facto division of Syria undermining its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Only with movement on resolution 2254 (2015), addressing the political crisis at the heart of the conflict, can we begin to address the many crises afflicting the country. Even starting with some incremental steps on resolution 2254 (2015) could create a floor beneath the unsustainable free fall and initiate a process of trust-building and healing.”
2023-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9403 (2023) · source
“We take note of some of the steps taken to respond to the sudden deterioration, including doubling minimum State salaries to roughly $13 a month. Yet a monthly food basket in June cost at least $81, according to the World Food Programme, a figure that has gone up by roughly 70 per cent in just a year and is no doubt higher now in late August. Those trends speak for themselves. The tragic reality is that, for as long as the violent conflict continues and the political process is blocked, the suffering of the Syrian people will simply get worse. Syria cannot fix its economy while it is in a state of conflict.”
2023-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9403 (2023) · source
“Mr. Pedersen: The Syrian people both inside and outside Syria continue to suffer acutely from the conflict in all its dimensions, and the absence of a genuine political process is deeply detrimental to their well- being. One latest indicator of suffering is the further collapsing economy. A very bad economic situation has become even worse. In three months, the Syrian pound has lost more than 80 per cent of its value. Last week, it hit an all-time low of 15,500 to the United States dollar at the unofficial market rate. Remember that, in 2011, the Syrian pound was 47 to the dollar. Prices are now spiralling out of control for essential goods, such as food, medicine, fuel and basic commodities. Every part of Syria and every community have been affected. Many are struggling to provide meals to their families.”
2023-08-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9403 (2023) · source
“And it requires regional and international unity in support of a Syrian-led, Syrian-owned, United Nations-facilitated political process to restore Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity and meet the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people. The more that Council members can work together despite their differences, the more they can encourage and support the Syrians to do the same.”
2023-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9383 (2023) · source
“I thank the many people in the region and beyond who have sought to reinforce the core message of the United Nations in that regard, and I continue to prioritize working closely with the actors in the region. And as we have all done, we will continue to consult widely with Syrian civil society and Syrian women, including through the Civil Society Support Room and the Syrian Women’s Advisory Board. Shifting the dynamics requires engagement in a spirit of pragmatism and flexibility, and a greater sense of urgency and pace. It requires a constructive and coordinated international diplomacy in support of genuine confidence-building.”
2023-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9383 (2023) · source
“I urge the parties to the conflict to cooperate with the Institution, to share information with families on the fate of the missing, just as they would if action were taken to release detainees at scale, and to cease the practices — about which there are still many reports — of arrests of returnees and of the forcible removal of children to military training camps, as well as the torture of detainees, which has led to deaths. If we are to move forward, I would appeal to the Syrian Government to work proactively with the United Nations in the pursuit of a political path out of the conflict. I will also continue to work with the Syrian Negotiation Commission, with which my Deputy, Ms. Najat Rochdi, met this month in Geneva.”
2023-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9383 (2023) · source
“When they are unable to secure basic needs, some families adopt negative coping mechanisms, such as reducing meals or resorting to child labour. And of course, as a last resort, many simply find ways to leave Syria. The tragedy of the detained, disappeared and missing has also remained unchanged. At least on that question, the General Assembly’s decision to establish the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic through its adoption of resolution 77/301 is a sign of hope.”
2023-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9383 (2023) · source
“To give just one example, this month the Syrian pound hit a record low, with the unofficial rate for the first time exceeding the 12,000 Syrian pound mark relative to one United States dollar. The impact of that on all Syrians, 9 in 10 of whom are living below the poverty line, is extremely serious. Just to take one indicator, some workers are now earning less than $8 a month when in June their monthly earnings were around $18, meaning that their families can now hardly afford one meal a day. Basic services and other critical infrastructure are on the verge of collapse. In the scorching summer heat, some households can access less than three hours of electricity and primary water supplies a day on average, while others have less access or even none at all.”
2023-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9383 (2023) · source
“They continue to be injured or killed, amid violent clashes and regular exchanges of mortar, rocket and artillery fire across north-east and north- west Syria. This month also saw air strikes attributed to Israel, reports of Turkish drone strikes, reports of pro- Government air strikes north of Aleppo, and reports from the United States saying that it carried out drone strikes near Al-Bab on a leader of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. Tensions in the south-west spilled over into military escalation once again. The sustained calm that can lead to a nationwide ceasefire remains essential. In addition, the threat posed by listed terrorist groups remains very real and must be addressed in a cooperative manner. Meanwhile, Syria’s economic crisis is deepening.”
2023-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9383 (2023) · source
“In that context, I have continued to coordinate closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Emergency Relief Coordinator. Let me stress that this is one of several topics where a wider steps-for-steps discussion could be productive. There are many others, as I have flagged in the past. We need engagement on them because while diplomacy has continued, many things remain entirely unchanged in this war, as Syrian civil society constantly reminds us. Syria remains territorially divided, and Syrian society, too, is divided on many issues. Five foreign armies are present in Syria, and we have seen an alarming rise in tensions among them in the past month. Civilians continue to be arbitrarily detained, tortured and forcibly disappeared.”
2023-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9383 (2023) · source
“At present, the conditions for safe, dignified and voluntary refugee returns are simply not in place. And the refugees must be protected, including from refoulement — just as all civilians inside Syria, including IDPs, must be protected. That is why we need the Syrian Government to do more to address the very real and continuing protection concerns — something that is fundamental and that I have continually underlined. At the same time, we will continue to engage donors on doing more to address the concerns that all Syrians have about livelihoods. Such a step-for-step dynamic could begin to change realities on the ground for all Syrians, including the displaced — and could also build confidence and political space for a broader set of issues related to resolution 2254 (2015), bringing us closer to a safe, calm and neutral environment.”
2023-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9383 (2023) · source
“In the eight sessions that have been held so far, there is no denying that progress has been very slow. And there are reasons for that, reasons I have brought up in the past. But I am convinced, as I believe are most stakeholders, that it is better for all the Syrian people that the process resume, continue, deepen and gradually build some trust and move forward on substance. That last point — substance — is essential. My team and I are fully engaged in the effort to unblock the impasse and find a way forward. A second area that I have long sought to unlock is how to move forward incrementally towards a safe, calm environment in Syria — something that would obviously overlap in many areas with the question of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), which has gained heightened attention in the region.”
2023-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9383 (2023) · source
“That constitution will be the social contract that must underpin Syrians’ ultimate reconciliation and that will establish for a post-conflict future the powers and duties of the State and the rights and obligations of its citizens. This is why the constitutional basket is core to Security Council resolution 2254 (2015), which among other things sets a constitutional process for developing a new constitution. The Constitutional Committee brings together nominees of the Government, the Syrian Negotiation Commission and a middle third from civil society on the basis they have formally agreed on in the terms of reference of the Constitutional Committee, to “prepare and draft for popular approval a constitutional reform, as a contribution to the political settlement in Syria and the implementation of Security Council resolution 2254 (2015)”.”
2023-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9383 (2023) · source
“I welcome the fact that reconvening the Constitutional Committee is a clear point of consensus among many key players. But I am disappointed that disputes over the venue — which have arisen entirely owing to issues unrelated to Syria — have so far prevented that from coming to pass. We need political will to overcome the issues that have prevented it, to date, from reconvening in Geneva and to ensure that it resumes and makes credible progress. Let me pause here to remind the Council why that political will is important. While not all issues are solely in the hands of the Syrians, one that can and must be in their hands alone is their country’s future constitution.”
2023-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9383 (2023) · source
“I am glad that the European Union and the United Kingdom have extended their new humanitarian exemptions on Syria, which they issued in the aftermath of the earthquake. Such types of exemptions, together with enhanced attention to countering over-compliance, are much needed. On the political front, let us be honest — thus far, months of potentially significant diplomacy have not translated into concrete outcomes for Syrians on the ground, whether at home or abroad, nor into real moves in the political process. I hope that they will soon, because if not, that will be another missed opportunity to help the Syrian conflict to come to a negotiated end, at a time when the impact of the crisis is deepening. Both a Syrian-Syrian track and a wider process of steps-for-steps confidence-building are needed now if we are to move forward.”
2023-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9383 (2023) · source
“Nothing is more important right now for the most vulnerable Syrians than that. Let me also note that we need a redoubled effort to secure sufficient humanitarian resources and rapid disbursement, at a time when funding is more stretched than ever. This year’s humanitarian response plan is approximately 13 per cent funded, while the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan is less than 10 per cent funded. I urge donors to step up and stand with the millions of people in Syria and in the region in host countries, who depend on life-saving humanitarian aid and early-recovery and livelihood support, after a decade of war. I also call on the sanctioning countries to continue to mitigate any effects of sanctions that could worsen the living conditions of Syrian civilians.”
2023-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9383 (2023) · source
“I can therefore only share the Secretary-General’s disappointment that the Council could not agree to extend its authorization of United Nations cross-border relief operations — a lifeline for millions of Syrians. How are the Syrians meant to believe that some broader progress is possible, and how are they meant to be encouraged to overcome their own deep differences, if consensus on humanitarian basics among the international parties is elusive? As the political Envoy, I profoundly hope that all doors will be kept open to resolve that issue, and that the Council and all stakeholders will put the needs of the Syrians first. We must redouble efforts to find a solution that ensures that the continued delivery of cross-border and cross-line humanitarian assistance continues.”
2023-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9383 (2023) · source
“The goals are clear: to resume the intra-Syrian political process facilitated by the United Nations, most particularly by reconvening the Constitutional Committee and making incremental progress when we do; and, also, to elicit from all the key parties confidence-building measures — step-for-step and step-by-step — in a reciprocal and verifiable manner, consistent with my mandate in resolution 2254 (2015). I have also consistently stressed that addressing the dire and worsening humanitarian situation not only is a humanitarian necessity, but also would provide some confidence that progress on political issues is also possible. As we remember, after the earthquakes, we did see positive humanitarian gestures.”
2023-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9383 (2023) · source
“Mr. Pedersen: For several months, we have been urging and advising that the new diplomatic context surrounding the Syrian conflict could act as a circuit- breaker — if there was substantive engagement. With substantive engagement, diplomacy could begin to see important issues addressed incrementally in a manner that would move us along the path envisaged in resolution 2254 (2015). I have sought to engage the Syrian parties, the Arab, Astana and Western players and the Security Council to build positively on that, promote coordination, coherence and complementarity on Syria and to urge everyone to be ready to offer a genuine contribution.”
2023-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9383 (2023) · source
“I therefore look forward to engaging the Syrian parties, the Arab, Astana and Western players, and, indeed, all members of the Council, in the spirit of promoting coordination, coherence and complementarity on Syria and eliciting positive progress, step for step and step by step, in a reciprocal and verifiable manner, consistent with my mandate in resolution 2254 (2015). Alongside that, it is time to see the Syrians engage in dialogue and return to discussing their own future together in the Constitutional Committee. I will continue to work to facilitate a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political resolution that restores Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity and meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people.”
2023-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9333 (2023) · source
“Likewise, the Women’s Advisory Board met virtually this month and with wider networks of Syrian women and continues to share with us the concerns and aspirations of all Syrians. Last month, I said that we were entering a period of renewed probing and testing in a new context, with enhanced regional engagement and many ideas that have long been on the table, along with some new ones. There are now common and concrete points on which the many players are focused that could be meaningfully discussed and advanced. If substantive issues begin to be addressed, even if incrementally, that new dynamic could create much needed momentum.”
2023-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9333 (2023) · source
“Let me also remind the Council of the Secretary-General’s call for a 12-month extension of the Security Council’s authorization to operate the cross-border mechanism. Meanwhile, we continue to consult with the broadest spectrum of the Syrian people, including through the Civil Society Support Room, which convened in Geneva this month in the form of thematic working groups. At the core of its message was the need for a safe environment and a comprehensive and sustainable political process, in line with resolution 2254 (2015), which would create the conditions for Syrians to return home. The Syrian- Syrian dialogue is an essential element to rebuilding social cohesion and identifying entry points that unify all Syrians.”
2023-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9333 (2023) · source
“Let us also remember that the level of humanitarian suffering has never been higher, as my colleague from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs will, no doubt, shortly inform the Council. Deputy Special Envoy Rochdi convened the Humanitarian Task Force again during the reporting period, appealing for humanitarian access via all modalities, whether cross-line or cross-border, as well as resources to meet emergency humanitarian needs, including early recovery and livelihoods. Let me reiterate my welcoming of the Syrian Government’s extension of the Bab Al-Salam and Al-Rai crossings for three more months to allow for the continued much-needed aid from the United Nations.”
2023-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9333 (2023) · source
“In that spirit, I am in close touch with the relevant authorities in a renewed effort to overcome obstacles and reconvene the Constitutional Committee in Geneva. Meanwhile, too many Syrians are still affected by violence. This month alone saw ongoing exchanges of rocket and mortar fire across front lines, air strikes from Israel, Turkish drone strikes, air strikes attributed to Jordan against drug smugglers, the first pro- Government suspected air strike in Idlib in more than five months and attacks by listed terrorist groups. Yes, there is a broad military stalemate, but violence continues to cause civilian deaths on all sides and the renewed escalation of hostilities is not off the table. The engagement of all actors to sustain calm and work on a nationwide ceasefire remains of vital importance.”
2023-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9333 (2023) · source
“The cumulative effects of a decade of war and conflict, corruption, the Lebanese financial crisis, the coronavirus disease, sanctions, illicit drug trafficking and the war in Ukraine mean that the economic morass of the Syrians has never been more acute. Changing that must also be a key priority of any confidence-building process. Let me also underline the heightened importance of resuming a credible intra-Syrian political process, starting with reconvening the Constitutional Committee. A way must be found to overcome the non-Syrian issues that have arisen and to resume the Committee’s work and see it develop in a positive direction. I appreciate the ideas of many on ways out of the impasse and it is a priority to seek to resolve the challenges.”
2023-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9333 (2023) · source
“We continue to call on all parties in Syria to take concrete and meaningful steps on this file, which would do so much to change the dynamics, if done at scale and in the right way. We also continue to urge Member States to support the United Nations efforts towards the establishment by the General Assembly of an institution dedicated to the search for missing persons, as per the recommendation of the Secretary-General. Let us remember that for the Syrian people, the economy continues to reach new lows. The Syrian lira reached its lowest level ever in the past month and inflation is on the rise. And the recent earthquake’s impact has worsened the country’s economic crisis. There are reports of a further increase in poverty, including an assessment by the International Labour Organization of approximately 170,000 workers losing their jobs.”
2023-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9333 (2023) · source
“It could help bring about movement towards a safer, calmer and more neutral environment in Syria, and it could help alleviate hardship inside the country. A United Nations presence and access in all the relevant areas would of course be an essential component in all of that. We also continue to stress the importance of generosity in responding to funding requests related to Syrian refugees and of avoiding inflammatory rhetoric about them. Let me also strongly emphasize that addressing the fate of the detained, the disappeared and the missing is a core issue for moving forward in Syria. It is hard to see how there could be genuine confidence-building without some progress on that issue, which has an impact on nearly all Syrians and is fundamental to families and communities and to repairing Syria’s social fabric.”
2023-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9333 (2023) · source
“Other issues that were also major concerns were inadequate basic services and housing, on the one hand, and fears about military service, conscription, recruitment, arrests, detention, harassment and retaliation, on the other. Why is that also important for confidence-building and the political process? It is important because it tells us that if the Syrian Government were to start to address the protection concerns of the displaced more systematically, working closely with the United Nations, and if donors were to help the United Nations do more to address the concerns that all Syrians have about their livelihoods, that would help accomplish what we all say we want to do — build confidence and begin to change the realities on the ground for all Syrians and not only the displaced.”
2023-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9333 (2023) · source
“I want to share with everyone the voices of Syrian refugees themselves, as expressed in the annual surveys by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees of refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Egypt. The latest was published last week. It tells us that most Syrian refugees still hope to return one day, and a sizable number hope to return within five years. But, this year, as in previous years, only a small fraction indicated their intention to return in the next 12 months. Why is that? The top two factors cited by refugees were a lack of livelihoods and work opportunities, on the one hand, and a lack of safety and security, on the other.”
2023-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9333 (2023) · source
“While they have observed the recent diplomatic developments, they have not yet seen any real improvement in their lives, whether they live in or outside Syria. Nor have they seen renewed signs that the intra-Syrian political process will actually resume and start to move forward. Only if those two things change — confidence-building on the ground and a genuine political process — will we be able to say that the current opportunity has been seized. Understandably, there has been much focus on the question of Syrian refugees and the internally displaced as well. We continue to uphold and further the principle of the safe, dignified and voluntary return of refugees.”
2023-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9333 (2023) · source
“I have long sought to bring about reciprocal, concrete and verifiable confidence-building measures to unlock progress on implementing resolution 2254 (2015). I can only welcome the intensified regional consultations and work in the same direction. My goal is to enhance the coordination, complementarity and coherence of the efforts under way, and I welcome the fact that the regional actors have also clearly stated the same goal. After all, even minimal progress on some issues pertaining to resolution 2254 (2015) will require the confidence and resources of many different players, as well as serious actions. It is vital that the recent diplomatic gestures be matched by meaningful action. Let us remember that the Syrian people have continued to suffer on a massive scale.”
2023-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9333 (2023) · source
“After consulting a wide range of stakeholders when I was in New York last month, I visited Iran, to meet the Iranian Foreign Minister and other senior officials, and Türkiye for senior-level engagements. I met with the Jordanian and Egyptian Foreign Ministers in Geneva, spoke to the Saudi Foreign Minister by phone and was in touch with a range of other players. I spoke on the phone with Syrian Foreign Minister Mekdad and saw President Jamous of the Syrian Negotiations Commission in Istanbul. In those engagements, I made it clear that I appreciate the dangers of a continuation of the status quo for both the Syrian people and for the regional and other actors that want to curb the instability created across Syria’s borders, including from narcotics, and that continue to host millions of Syrian refugees.”
2023-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9333 (2023) · source
“I note that in dialogue with the Syrian Government, the meetings in Amman, Jeddah and Moscow considered issues related to resolution 2254 (2015), including humanitarian aid and access, the safe, dignified and voluntary return of refugees, the restoration of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, efforts to counter listed terrorist groups and post-conflict reconstruction. The importance of a political solution was underlined and there have been appeals for reconvening the Constitutional Committee and working for national reconciliation. Calling attention to those themes and points could present a real opportunity to move forward. That is the key message I have brought during my intensive engagement during the reporting period.”
2023-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9333 (2023) · source
“This past month has seen the pace of diplomatic activity quicken, with a meeting in Moscow of the Foreign Ministers of Iran, Russia, Syria and Türkiye; a meeting in Amman of the Foreign Ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Syria; resolutions adopted in Cairo and Jeddah by the League of Arab States; the establishment of an Arab ministerial liaison committee to follow up on the implementation of the statement adopted in Amman and continue direct dialogue with the Syrian Government; and the Arab League summit in Jeddah, in which the President of Syria participated. There have also been meetings in Brussels on Syria between European and American officials.”
2023-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9333 (2023) · source
“Mr. Pedersen: Last month, when I briefed the Security Council in person (see S/PV.9313), I said that new diplomatic activity in the region could be an opportunity. If seized, it could act as a circuit breaker in the quest for a political solution in Syria — if there is constructive engagement on Syria’s part and if key regional and international groups and players can work together.”
2023-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9333 (2023) · source
“We must constantly remind ourselves that, even if we start small and move in stages, Syria still needs a comprehensive solution, as called for in resolution 2254 (2015), that restores Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity and meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people.”
2023-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9313 (2023) · source
“I will continue to engage directly with the Syrian parties and to remind them — in particular, at this juncture, the Government of Syria — that they should seize the opportunity with a readiness to move forward on substantive issues. I will also continue to work closely with all and to emphasize the importance of close coordination with all key actors. Even modest and specific steps will require give-and-take from a broad range of different players, and genuine verification too. And I hope that, if we build some trust and confidence with substantive moves, that can then serve in time as a basis for a more comprehensive effort to resolve this conflict via a political settlement. There is no shortcut to stability without addressing the fundamental drivers of the conflict.”
2023-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9313 (2023) · source
“Syrians still need immense resources from all members to meet emergency humanitarian needs, including with regard to early recovery and livelihoods. Humanitarian access remains essential via all modalities, whether cross-line or cross-border. To summarize my key message, we are at a potentially important juncture, with renewed attention on Syria — particularly from the region — that could assist our efforts in advancing a political solution to this conflict in line with resolution 2254 (2015). But for that renewed attention to help unlock progress, many actors will need to take concrete steps, not just one set of actors.”
2023-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9313 (2023) · source
“And, in some areas, sporadic attacks by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant appear to be on the uptick, especially in the central desert, with increasing Syrian Government, Russian and United States-led coalition strikes against them. I urge all to work to rein in violence and bring about sustained calm, an appeal I will continue to make to all key stakeholders, including in the ceasefire task force in Geneva. Ultimately, we need a nationwide ceasefire and a coordinated approach to countering listed terrorist groups, in line with international law. Finally, I remind the Council that, after the earthquakes and more than 12 years of war and conflict, Syria remains a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions. We will hear more on that, of course, from my colleague from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.”
2023-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9313 (2023) · source
“Violent incidents have been increasing in the north- west, with ever-more regular shelling and rocket fire across front lines involving pro-Government forces, armed opposition forces as well as the listed terrorist group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, which has announced further cross-line raids on Government positions. The relative calm in the north-east has been punctuated by Turkish and armed opposition groups targeting Syrian Democratic Forces positions, in what they say was a response to the latter’s shelling and rocket attacks, including on Turkish soldiers. Israeli strikes are becoming ever-more frequent. The south-west remains turbulent.”
2023-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9313 (2023) · source
“Meanwhile, I continue to convene a broader spectrum of Syrians in Geneva and the region, including through the Women’s Advisory Board and the Civil Society Support Room. Those meetings show that Syrians still have much that they can agree upon, across many divides. We saw that earlier this month in a meeting that Deputy Special Envoy Rochdi convened in Geneva, bringing together a group of Syrians from all quarters of the country, and its diaspora too, to discuss post-earthquake political challenges. Let me register my concern that the brief calm after the earthquakes has been further eroded.”
2023-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9313 (2023) · source
“It is clear that actions by the Syrian Government, matched then with actions from the outside, on some of these issues could arrest negative trends and build positive ones. That would have new potency, with a stronger regional role. Substantive moves could build some trust and confidence, including among civilians inside Syria and those who have fled. On the other hand, if this opportunity is not seized, we will not see real change on the ground, leading to new frustration and despair. Let me also reiterate my readiness to facilitate Syrian-Syrian dialogue, including to reconvene the Constitutional Committee. It is surely past time for us to move beyond the non-Syrian issues that have been stalling the process. The Committee should resume its work in Geneva in a spirit of compromise, with substance and at pace.”
2023-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9313 (2023) · source
“I am continuing to use my good offices and to develop the collective thinking on those ideas. I am ready to help facilitate the way forward, step-for-step and step-by-step, in a reciprocal and verifiable manner, consistent with my mandate in resolution 2254 (2015). I will continue my direct engagement with the Government of Syria and with the Syrian Negotiations Commission, and I appeal anew for genuine engagement and readiness to move forward on substance. I am ready to work very closely with others who are seeking to play a facilitative role as well. When I briefed the Security Council the previous time (see S/PV.9291), I mentioned the kinds of areas where moves could be made on both sides.”
2023-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9313 (2023) · source
“No one group of actors can realize our collective responsibility to protect Syrian civilians, address the issue of the detained, abducted, disappeared or missing and ensure conditions for safe, dignified and voluntary refugee returns. And no single group of actors can realize our collective responsibility to help the Syrian people chart their own future, the only way that Syria will ever be truly stable and prosperous again. In short, unlocking each of Syria’s myriad problems requires several keys, each held by a different stakeholder who cannot be overlooked and who can block if excluded. The recent diplomatic moves mean we are now in a period of renewed probing and testing, in a new context, with an enhanced regional engagement and with many ideas that have long been on the table.”
2023-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9313 (2023) · source
“If we are to make progress on any issue, even incrementally in a step-for step manner, we must see a wider group of players work together. Ultimately, all will have to make contributions in a coordinated, multilateral effort. Members might ask why that is — because no existing group of actors can fundamentally shift the military stalemate or restore Syria’s sovereignty, independence or territorial integrity. No one group of players can address structural issues, fix the economy and reconstruct Syria. No one group of actors can resolve the threat of terrorism, stabilize Syria, stem the sources of regional instability and safeguard legitimate security concerns, including on Syria’s borders.”
2023-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9313 (2023) · source