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 am asking key States to work with me on exploratory discussions on a package of concrete, mutual and reciprocal steps that are to be defined with realism and precision, implemented in parallel and verifiable. Such steps are needed, above all, to help save Syrian lives, ease suffering, promote regional stability and further the implementation of resolution 2254 (2015).These are all interests around which members of the Council and other key international players see eye to eye. But I believe that more buy-in is needed in the form of relevant players being ready not only to identify what they seek, but also what they can deliver on. I have today touched upon several issues that could be considered as part of such a broader package of reciprocity.”
2021-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8841 (2021) · source
“For its part, the United Nations will do all that it can to facilitate the implementation of all aspects of the resolution. Mr. Griffiths will say more about this in a moment. But the resolution also sent a message that key States, in particular the Russian Federation and the United States, could cooperate on Syria beyond the humanitarian track. There is a need to follow up and build on the adoption of resolution 2585 (2021) in other areas of common interest and shared concern. That will be essential if we are to make modest, incremental progress. I discussed that in depth with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov when I visited Moscow in July. I have had further contacts with the United States as well and with many other Governments, and that will, of course, continue.”
2021-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8841 (2021) · source
“Let us also remember that the economic crisis continues to present great hardships for Syrians in their daily lives, from serious energy shortages to decreased food supply. I reiterate my concern about Syrian livelihoods against the backdrop of conflict, the various challenges associated with it and the crisis emanating from Lebanon. Let me also repeat that it is vital that any humanitarian effects resulting from sanctions that could exacerbate the plight of ordinary Syrians be avoided, in particular in terms of over-compliance. The issues facing Syrians are indeed far from being solely in the hands of the Syrians. Constructive international diplomacy is plainly needed. The Security Council’s adoption of resolution 2585 (2021) in July was an important humanitarian measure.”
2021-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8841 (2021) · source
“Meanwhile, my Head of Office in Damascus has met with the co-Chair nominated by the Government, Mr. Kuzbari, and I have requested to visit Damascus. We are continuing our efforts to engage to find a way forward, but it is not easy. I strongly appeal for flexibility on the basis of my bridging proposal to overcome the impasse and convene a new session as soon as possible. The impasse, of course, highlights issues of the lack of trust and lack political will, which have paralysed efforts to advance a political solution. As Council members know, I have long urged that we work on a wider set of issues to try to unlock modest steps and gestures that could build some trust. For instance, action on the crucial file of detainees, abductees and missing persons remains essential.”
2021-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8841 (2021) · source
“Such efforts must prioritize the protection of civilians and not lead to new waves of displacement and destruction. There have been reports of significant air strikes attributed to Israel in recent weeks, including a notable incident in Damascus on 20 August. The sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity of Syria continue to be compromised. Those developments remind us that the conflict in Syria is far from over and that we a need a credible political process as well as more sustained international cooperation. I continue my efforts to facilitate the convening of a sixth session of the small body of the Constitutional Committee. I have met twice virtually in recent weeks with the co-Chair nominated by the Syrian Negotiations Committee, Mr. Al-Bahra.”
2021-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8841 (2021) · source
“The north-eastern areas of Raqqa and Hasakah have seen further violence involving non-State armed groups, which has resulted in casualties, including among civilians. Meanwhile, humanitarian concerns over repeated water cuts in the north-east remain critical, affecting vital infrastructure, including hospitals, irrigation networks and water stations. I am sure that Mr. Griffiths will return to this in greater detail. A deadly blast targeted a military bus in Damascus on 4 August. Syria has also been subjected to attacks by Security Council-listed terrorist groups elsewhere in the past month. Those unacceptable attacks remind us that efforts to counter terrorism are essential. In order for those efforts to be effective, we need cooperation, coordination and actions that are in strict compliance with international law.”
2021-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8841 (2021) · source
“We are urging a sustainable agreement that paves the way to restoring a safe and secure environment, thus alleviating the fears and grievances of the local population, addressing social, humanitarian and economic needs, averting any displacement and allowing the residents of Dara’a to return to their homes in safety and in dignity. But there is also trouble in other parts of Syria. Turning now to north-west Syria, including Idlib, northern Latakia and Aleppo, as well as western Hama. Recent months have witnessed an intensification in air strikes and shelling, leading to dozens of civilian casualties, including women and children, and the largest displacement recorded since March 2020.”
2021-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8841 (2021) · source
“We have seen civilian casualties and displacement — including a significant number of women and children — and damage to civilian infrastructure. We have contacted all sides and engaged a wide range of Syrians, including on the ground, as well as key international players. There has been an intensification of Russian mediation efforts in recent days. We repeat our calls on all parties to end the violence immediately and to meet their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. Immediate, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access is needed to all affected areas and communities, including Dara’a Al-Balad. I have requested access for my team to the area, and the United Nations family has requested the same in order to deliver much-needed humanitarian aid.”
2021-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8841 (2021) · source
“Mr. Pedersen: Over the past 17 months, I have been informing the Council that, as compared with previous phases of the conflict, there was relative calm in Syria across largely frozen front lines of conflict. I have, however, been highlighting the constant incidents and the dangers they pose to civilians, as well as the fragility of the situation. I have urged all to work towards a nationwide ceasefire. Regrettably, we have seen a recent escalation in many parts of Syria. Mr. Martin Griffiths will provide details on the humanitarian situation, and I warmly welcome him in his new capacity. Let me turn first to the situation in the south-west, and particularly in Dara’a governorate, where we have seen significant deployments of troops, heavy shelling and ground clashes.”
2021-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8841 (2021) · source
“It is also my hope that when I next brief the Council, I will be able to say that the Security Council has successfully come to unified action on the issue of cross-border and cross-line operations. Once again, I thank everyone very much for their continued support. It is needed, and we need to do even more than we have been able to do so far.”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“I have been asked a few questions on more details in that regard, and I hope, with the engagement that I am now having with the different foreign ministers in the days ahead — and I indicated my travel plans — that when we meet next, it will be possible to go into a little more detail as to how we can move forward together on this particular file, I indicated the areas where I think that there is potential room for cooperation. Listening to Council members today, I have to some extent been strengthened in my view that this is indeed the way forward. I hope that, after my visit to Rome and, as I said, hopefully soon to Moscow, also after consultations with Iran and with Turkey and then indeed also of the entire Astana format, we will hopefully have some more clarity.”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“Mr. Pedersen: I have been listening very carefully to what everyone had to say. I must thank everyone for the strong support that came from all for the work that I am doing together with my team. I also very much appreciate the deep understanding of the challenges that we are facing. Of course, after 10 years of conflict, that is not something that is going to change overnight. However, I think the shared frustration we have that we are not really making progress on the political front should serve as an impetus and as a reminder that we need to increase the dialogue on how to move that process forward.”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“Syrian civil society — and, indeed, I think, the vast majority of Syrians — are desperately looking for signals that the members of the international community, despite their differences, can work together. I urge all present to assist me on that in the weeks and months ahead. In doing so, I hope that we can ease the suffering of many millions of Syrians, promote stability and move forward, step by step. Our goal remains a lasting political settlement that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people and restores Syria’s sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity, in line with resolution 2254 (2015).”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“I look forward to engaging with them myself next week. My own thinking continues to be shaped by these encounters with Syrians and the common messages that they bring forth. There is a thirst for a political resolution of the conflict as the only means to put the country back together again. There is a sense that this is not just desirable but possible and that the United Nations must preserve and facilitate the political process for that purpose. There is also a sense that at this juncture, the most important priority should be to address the issues that are causing more and more daily suffering to the Syrians themselves. And there is a very strong sense that many of the issues have fallen out of Syrian hands and require international attention.”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“That is why it is a high priority for me and my team, as it was for my predecessors, to involve the widest spectrum of Syrian civil society in the political process, including via our Civil Society Support Room. I am pleased to report that this month we have deepened that effort in two ways. First, we launched the first in a series of thematic working groups, to give participants in our Civil Society Support Room a more structured way to contribute their expertise and inform my mediation efforts, aided by a virtual platform. Secondly, earlier this week, Deputy Matar and our team began a series of virtual regional consultations of the Civil Society Support Room. Approximately 120 Syrian civil-society actors are taking part, more than a third of them women, participating from across all Syrian governorates and from abroad.”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“Further to my update in my most recent briefing (see S/2021/418), I continue to seek to facilitate the agreement of the Syrian co-Chairs on how to ensure that the existing challenges are addressed, based on my April bridging proposal. Deputy Special Envoy Khawla Matar is currently in Damascus in the context of that effort. When the co-Chair agreement is in place, we will brief the middle third of the Constitutional Committee and immediately set in motion the planning for a sixth session in Geneva and the work of the Committee going forward. As we seek to advance a political process, we should engage the many Syrians who are working to ameliorate the consequences of this conflict and to build bridges in their society.”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“But that is what the two parties — the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic and the Syrian Negotiation Commission — agreed to when they concluded the terms of reference and core rules of procedure for a credible, balanced and inclusive Constitutional Committee, facilitated by the United Nations in Geneva. The Council welcomed that agreement in a presidential statement on 8 October 2019 (S/PRST/2019/12). I think most Syrians and most of us here in this Chamber are disappointed that the Committee, which has met five times, is not yet working expeditiously to produce results and continued progress on its agreed mandate to prepare and draft for popular approval a constitutional reform.”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has laid out protection thresholds and parameters in that regard. I believe that there are steps that could be taken by the Government and that there are steps that could be taken by others, too, to promote concrete progress. These are the kinds of issues — and there may be others, too — that I believe could be seriously discussed and where mutual and reciprocal actions could begin to make a positive difference for Syrians and give impetus to a political process. In the meantime, let me stress that I continue to seek to facilitate the Constitutional Committee as an important contribution to a broader process. It is no doubt difficult to work on a new constitution in a situation of unresolved conflict.”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“For things to change, we need real reform and international engagement. Let me note here that it is important that any humanitarian effects of sanctions exacerbating the plight of ordinary Syrians be avoided and mitigated, in particular in terms of overcompliance. I note the measures taken in this direction recently by the relevant players, but continual action on this is indeed needed. Let us also focus on the displacement crisis in Syria. It is almost incomprehensible in scale, with 13 million people forced to flee their homes, within Syria and abroad — half the country’s pre-war population. That is a profound humanitarian and national tragedy and also a ticking time bomb for regional stability. We need to see actions that create the necessary conditions and confidence for safe, dignified and voluntary return.”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“Recovering from the economic impact that most Syrians face after a decade of war and devastation is another area of potential common focus. By some measures — particularly the currency — the situation has stabilized somewhat in recent weeks. But many Syrians are struggling to put food on the table, to find medicine and health care for loved ones, to find fuel for transport, to sustain their businesses, and to access electricity and water. Indeed, water cuts and restrictions, and the worst water deficit ever in the Euphrates basin, continue to impact millions of Syrians in the north-east. The convergence of an economic crisis and a humanitarian crisis will continue to have dramatic consequences if not addressed. The result will be not only more human suffering and hopelessness but also instability. That cannot be in anyone’s interest.”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“Elsewhere, this month has seen more air strikes attributed to Israel, more turbulence in the south-west and more attacks by Security Council-listed terrorist groups, including operations claimed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Indeed, countering listed terrorist groups is another priority area for common effort. There are worrying signs that ISIL may be strengthening, given the increased frequency and reach of its latest attacks. Other listed terrorist groups remain at large and in control of territory. Key international players can and should cooperate on countering listed terrorist groups, in an effective way that protects civilians and promotes stability, in line with international law.”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“A nationwide ceasefire should therefore be a common cause — to avert those dangers, to keep civilians safe and to serve as the first step toward the ultimate reunification of Syria and the restoration of its sovereignty. There were alarming signs of escalation this month in the attack on Al-Shifa hospital, in Afrin city. Civilians, including medical personnel, were killed and injured, and parts of the hospital were destroyed. Let me reiterate here my strong condemnation of that appalling attack and stress that all parties must fully comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and civilian objects. We also saw another escalation in southern Idlib, with mutual shelling, air strikes inside Idlib, reports of civilian fatalities and significant displacement.”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“The call for a nationwide ceasefire in resolution 2254 (2015) is another area for potential cooperation. I need not remind Council members that there are five foreign armies jostling inside Syria. Syrian territory is split into a number of de facto zones, with the country’s sovereignty seriously compromised. A patchwork of regional de-escalation and ceasefire agreements — in which Russia, Turkey and the United States are key players — have brought about 15 months of relative calm between those zones. But there is a danger that existing arrangements could unravel. They could be slowly eroded by the near-constant tempo of limited violence across front lines. Even worse, they could swiftly collapse as a result of a much more dramatic escalation.”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“But those efforts so far have not delivered in a way that is commensurate with the nature and scale of the issue. That is tragic, because families from every corner of Syria have seen loved ones detained, abducted or gone missing. Women are particularly impacted when detained or when their family members are, as we regularly hear from the Women’s Advisory Board. All sides — Syrian and international — say that they agree that action is needed. All sides stand to benefit from progress. We recently again engaged the Syrian Government on this subject, following up on a number of suggestions that we made, while also seeking information on the latest presidential decree of 2 May and recent reported releases. I believe a steps-for-steps discussion could help unlock more serious progress.”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“From New York, I will fly to Rome for consultations with Foreign Ministers participating in a ministerial meeting on Syria convened by Italy and the United States. I hope to be in Moscow soon and to consult Turkey and Iran and as well — there will be an Astana format meeting in Nur- Sultan in early July. I believe there are several areas where the initial steps might be found. They are areas of vital concern for average Syrians where there is potential common ground among key players and where progress would promote internal and regional stability and build trust and confidence. Take, for example, the call for action on detainees, abductees and missing persons in resolution 2254 (2015). Yes, we continue engaging the Syrian parties and participating in a working group on that issue.”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“I believe we need a new constructive international dialogue on Syria to discuss concrete steps — steps that should be reciprocal and mutual, defined with realism and precision, implemented in parallel and verifiable. My idea is to deepen exploratory substantive consultations that help identify the very first steps that Syrian and international players could deliver to explore not only what they ask of others, but what kind of specific steps each can entertain. I know that will not be easy. But I sense that all key players are interested in deepening this conversation. I have been in regular contact with senior officials from the Russian Federation and the United States, before and since the recent Geneva summit. I have also been in regular contact with many other Council members and key States in the region.”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“I think we are all disappointed that we are not making real advances on the political track to implement resolution 2254 (2015), including a new constitution and elections administered under United Nations supervision. Regrettably, the gulf of mistrust among the parties and the complexity of the situation on the ground makes early progress towards a comprehensive settlement unlikely. But we must find ways to unite around advancing elements of the resolution, so that in time the situation will be ripe for a more comprehensive resolution of the conflict. I sense there is widespread support among Council members for this. Trust and confidence will be built through actions not words. Key players need to be ready to come to the table with the necessary goodwill and something to deliver.”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“Mr. Pedersen: I am very grateful to speak to the Security Council in person on Syria — it has been 18 months since I have been able to do so. An imminent priority is of course the humanitarian situation, and let me fully reiterate the Secretary- General’s appeal when he briefed the Security Council on Wednesday (see S/PV.8803). Civilians across the country desperately need life-saving assistance and help building resilience. It is absolutely vital to maintain and expand access, including cross-border and cross-line operations. A large-scale cross-border response for an additional 12 months is essential to save lives. Council members’ unity on this will be critical. The same unity is needed for the political process.”
2021-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8805 (2021) · source
“I urge key international players to maintain and intensify their links with their contacts in order to restore calm. I urge all members of the Council to put their weight firmly behind the search for a political way forward. As the Secretary-General reminded us yesterday, only in this way can we truly serve the interests of the Syrian people.”
2020-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8727 (2020) · source
“I intend to continue to pursue this discussion with the Syrian Government and the Syrian opposition and all international stakeholders, and I believe that the profound instability and suffering that the Syrians are experiencing today remind us that such a political approach is the only sustainable way forward. Much more needs to be done to advance such a process, in furtherance of resolution 2254 (2015), but today my primary concern is for the Syrian civilians caught in the fighting, who continue to relay the urgency of their situation and their desperate need for safety. They feel that they are not being heard. I appeal once again for full respect for international humanitarian law and for an immediate ceasefire in Idlib and ultimately, nationwide.”
2020-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8727 (2020) · source
“I also urge the parties to improve access to information for families about their detained or missing relatives. Ultimately, a lasting political settlement, in line with resolution 2254 (2015), needs a broader process. It will need to build trust and confidence, and one way of doing so is through a step-by-step process. Given the current level of violence on the ground, the human suffering and heightened international tensions with regard to Syria, one immediate priority is to reverse a set of dynamics that could further undermine trust, entrench divisions and render any political process even more difficult. But beyond that, we must explore a way forward based on reciprocal and mutually reinforcing actions undertaken by Syrians and international partners.”
2020-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8727 (2020) · source
“My team hosted the working group on the release of detainees/abductees, the handover of bodies and the identification of missing person in Geneva as part of a rotation between locations chosen by its members — Iran, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations. The International Committee of the Red Cross also participates as an observer. That file is immensely important on humanitarian grounds. Progress would also be essential to building trust and confidence. The discussions were constructive, particularly on processes related to the core issue of missing persons. However, efforts on that file have not yet produced meaningful progress in scale or pace with regard to releasing detainees and clarifying the fate of tens of thousands of Syrians unaccounted for. I reiterate my plea for unilateral releases, particularly of women and children.”
2020-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8727 (2020) · source
“I have continued to engage the Syrian parties to narrow differences on the agenda for a third session of the Constitutional Committee, based on the strict observance of the agreed terms of reference and rules of procedure — something that Foreign Minister Al-Moualem and I confirmed was vital when we met in Damascus late last month. I have continued to communicate with the co-Chairs nominated by the Government of Syria and the Syrian Negotiations Commission, who have been submitting and reacting to proposals from the other on a possible agenda. The co-Chair nominated by the opposition was in Geneva for further consultations, and Deputy Special Envoy Matar met with the Government-nominated co-Chair in Damascus last week. Differences remain, but I hope that we will soon be in a position to reconvene the Constitutional Committee in Geneva.”
2020-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8727 (2020) · source
“That, in turn, is a reminder that there is no military solution to the conflict and that a political process is required to move towards a political solution. I had hoped that the launch of the Constitutional Committee on the basis of the composition and the terms of reference and core rules of procedure formally agreed with the Syrian Government and the Syrian opposition could open the door to building some trust and confidence and to a wider positive dynamic for such a process. So far, that has not been the case, but as I continue to press all with influence to work for immediate calm I also remain fully engaged in efforts to try to unlock progress on the political track.”
2020-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8727 (2020) · source
“That episode stands as a stark reminder of the need for a sustainable arrangement for the north-east that is inclusive of all actors and respects and ultimately restores Syria’s sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity, in line with resolution 2254 (2015). The devastating scale of humanitarian suffering is primarily caused by violent conflict. More broadly, the Syrian economy continues to face serious challenges as a result of a variety of actors, developments and measures. All of these developments across the country remind us that Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence remain seriously compromised by the continuing conflict, and that we are a long way from finding a way to ensure that the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people for peace, security and a better future are realized.”
2020-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8727 (2020) · source
“The resurgence of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant is very worrying, with frequent attacks registered in the north-east, the desert region and around Homs and other areas. According to a statement issued last week by the Syrian military, Syrian Government air defences responded to enemy missiles coming from the occupied Syrian Golan. In the north-east, there are unresolved tensions and the presence of multiple actors. A United States- led coalition spokesperson stated that a United States patrol came under small-arms fire from local militia members and killed a combatant. Syrian State media says the person was a Syrian civilian.”
2020-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8727 (2020) · source
“As I stated in my latest briefing, I believe that through serious international cooperation, building on and enhancing previous agreements and in the spirit of Security Council resolutions and respect for international law and Syria’s sovereignty, it would be possible to find a solution for Idlib that addresses the serious ongoing threat posed by internationally proscribed terrorist groups without causing unacceptable humanitarian suffering. For that to be possible, the combined resources of the international community need to come together. There are worrying developments elsewhere on the ground as well. The situation in southern Syria remains of concern. Northern rural Aleppo has seen renewed hostilities, in particular in and around Afrin, Tell Rifaat, Nubul and Al-Zahraa, with reports of civilian casualties.”
2020-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8727 (2020) · source
“As sponsors of the Idlib de-escalation arrangements, Turkey and Russia can and must play a key role in finding a way to de-escalate the situation now. Russian and Turkish delegations have met intensively in recent days in Ankara, Munich and Moscow, and there have also been presidential contacts. However, no understanding has yet emerged. To the contrary, public statements from different quarters, Syrian and international, suggest an imminent danger of further escalation.”
2020-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8727 (2020) · source
“Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham and other proscribed terrorist groups remain a major presence inside Idlib. Resolutions 2253 (2015) and 2254 (2015) call for Member States to prevent and suppress terrorist acts committed by such groups and to eradicate the safe havens that they have established. However, military operations of all parties, including actions against and by designated terrorist groups, must respect the rules and obligations of international humanitarian law, which include the protection of civilians and civilian objects. The principle of proportionality must be respected. I stressed that in high-level contacts with senior Russian and Turkish officials at the Munich Security Conference last weekend, as well as with senior Iranian officials in Tehran.”
2020-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8727 (2020) · source
“Syrian Government forces and their allies have now regained control of the entire eastern side of the M5 highway and several territories west of the highway, including western rural Aleppo. Residential areas of Aleppo that previously had been subject to attacks from the de-escalation area appear no longer to be in firing range. The Turkish Ministry of Defence has announced that further reinforcements were deployed inside Syrian territory in the Idlib de-escalation zone. Those forces have reportedly deployed close to the front lines in armoured vehicles and tanks. We have witnessed repeated violent confrontations between Turkish and Syrian Government forces. For its part, the Russian Federation is actively engaged in support of the Syrian Government’s military operations.”
2020-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8727 (2020) · source
“Hundreds have been killed during the same period. The hostilities are now approaching densely populated areas, such as Idlib city and the Bab Al-Hawa border crossing, which has among the highest concentration of displaced civilians in north-west Syria and serves as a humanitarian lifeline. People are on the move in freezing temperatures in search of safety, which has become increasingly difficult. More than four of every five of the newly displaced civilians are women or children, who face specific vulnerabilities and threats to their security. Young children are dying from the cold. The potential for further mass displacement and even more catastrophic human suffering is apparent as an increasing number of people are hemmed into an ever-shrinking space.”
2020-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8727 (2020) · source
“Mr. Pedersen: Since my briefing two weeks ago (see S/PV.8715), I cannot report any progress in ending the current violence in north-west Syria or in reconvening the political process. Yesterday, the Secretary-General called for an immediate ceasefire in north-west Syria and for international humanitarian law to be upheld. I repeat that call today. However, I regret to report to the Council that hostilities, including heavy strikes from both the air and the ground, continue. As the Secretary- General has stressed and as Mr. Lowcock will shortly brief Council members in more detail, we are alarmed by the rapid deterioration of the humanitarian situation in north-west Syria and the tragic suffering of civilians. The ongoing offensive has displaced nearly 900,000 civilians since 1 December 2019, often multiple times.”
2020-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8727 (2020) · source
“I appeal for an end to the hostilities, and I appeal to all to engage in a serious international effort to cooperate on Idlib. It is a humanitarian imperative. It is the way towards effective counter-terrorism. It is in the interests of regional and international peace and security. And it is the essential foundation for a sustainable path out of the Syrian conflict, which is now approaching its tenth year. The Council recognized that when it unanimously adopted resolution 2254 (2015), which stipulated a nationwide ceasefire alongside a cooperative approach to combating terrorism, full respect of Syria’s sovereignty and a credible and inclusive United Nations-facilitated political process. That remains the only path to end the conflict. The major players and the members of the Council need to put their full weight behind that logic.”
2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source
“There is an urgent need for a sustained ceasefire and immediate unfettered humanitarian access to the civilian population. There is a need to contain the situation to give additional time to enable solutions to be found. There must be strengthened engagement with the civilian population. The question of foreign fighters needs to be squarely tackled. The provision of support to internationally proscribed terrorist groups needs to be further restricted. Any use of force against internationally proscribed groups should be carefully targeted. There could be serious exploration of a strengthened international presence, with the consent of the Syrian authorities. The combined resources of the international community need to come together.”
2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source
“Those agreements do not have third-party monitoring, and we are therefore not in a position to comment on their terms or observance. What we do know is that those agreements can enable prolonged periods of calm. So why can we not make that happen once again? That is the message that I impressed in my meetings recently in Moscow and Damascus, with high-level Turkish officials and with the co-Chairs of the Humanitarian Task Force meeting today in Geneva. I will take this message to Tehran in the coming days, and I will continue to press on the most important actors their responsibility to take a different path. I do not pretend to have a magical solution for Idlib. But I am convinced that, with a serious attempt at international cooperation, a solution can be found, while building on and augmenting earlier agreements.”
2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source
“We know that the continuation of the military approach will only entrench and further harden the deep international divisions over Syria and lead to more and more pressure, thereby weakening prospects for a step-by-step dynamic to build trust and confidence. The events of the last few days, in which the armies of two United Nations Member States — Syria and Turkey — have clashed inside Syria, suggest the very real prospect of conflagration in the immediate region, as well as far beyond. But we also know something else. We know that it is possible via agreement to stabilize parts of Syria and work on ways out. Idlib is a de-escalation zone established by agreement in May 2017, and it was the subject of a further Russian-Turkish stabilization memorandum in September 2018.”
2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source
“Moreover, Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham and other Security Council-proscribed terrorist groups, including foreign fighters, are a major force in Idlib. Their presence and influence in the area is unacceptable and constitutes a major challenge, first and foremost to the civilian population of Idlib itself and also in the wider sense for Syria, as well as for regional and international security. But we know from bitter experience that a continued all-out military approach will not solve this problem and that it would come at a completely unacceptable price. What we are now seeing creates the very real prospect of a bloody and protracted last stand on the Turkish border, with grave consequences for civilians and the risk of the dispersal of foreign terrorist fighters and ongoing insurgency afterwards.”
2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source
“Ordinary people in Idlib are conveying to me their grave fears for their lives and safety. They feel totally voiceless. Civil society actors inside Idlib, the best antidote and counterweight to radicalism, feel dismayed and abandoned. Syrian women have shared with me their fears of continued insecurity, including increased violence targeting women fleeing and living in displacement. Idlib is the place that became a refuge for hundreds of thousands of civilians from other parts of Syria who had fled violence. As a result, the population of the Idlib de-escalation zone has now swollen to an estimated 3 million, the vast majority of whom are civilians. It is also the place that fighters who refused to settle their status earlier had also sought refuge.”
2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source
“Hundreds of civilians have been killed in the past two months, more than half a million civilians have been displaced and most are fleeing into ever-shrinking areas, where they still hope to find relative safety. Further mass displacement seems inevitable if fighting continues. We appear to have lost sight of the principle of proportionality. Let me be very clear and remind all parties that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including health-care and educational facilities, are unacceptable. All military operations, including those against and by terrorist groups designated by the Security Council, must respect the requirements of international humanitarian law, including with regard to the protection of civilians and civilian objects.”
2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source
“On 3 February, Syrian Government artillery reportedly hit a Turkish observation post near Saraqib. Seven Turkish soldiers were killed and several more injured, according to the Turkish Ministry of Defence. We have since seen differing reports of dozens of Syrian Government forces killed in Turkish strikes on Syrian Government positions. Statements from the Russian and Turkish leadership in recent days have shown deep differences between the sponsors of the Idlib de-escalation arrangements. Two days ago, the Secretary-General noted his enormous concern about the fact that the most recent developments constituted a change in the nature of the conflict and reiterated his strong appeal for a cessation of hostilities. So far those calls have not been heeded.”
2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source