YouSaid · the spoken record

Sabbagh

lines on the record: 652
first: 2021-06-03
most recent: 2023-09-27
sittings or episodes: 62
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

“We underscore that, if such a ceasefire is to be achieved, there is a need to abolish the terrorist organizations active in certain parts of the country, specifically Da’esh and Al-Nusra Front, as well as their affiliates. There is also a need to end the Turkish occupation and the illegitimate presence of United States forces in Syria, leading to the restoration of the authority of the Syrian State throughout its entire territories, the re-establishment of security and stability and an end to any irregular and unacceptable situations. We consider a step forward those national and local reconciliations, as we have recently seen in Dara’a and Deir ez-Zor.”
2021-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8937 (2021) · source
“The Syrian Arab Republic remains committed to a political solution based on a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned dialogue that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people and ensures full commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and integrity of Syria. Syria awaits the seventh session of the Constitutional Committee. We applaud the positive contribution of the national delegation to its work; however, we emphasize that external parties should refrain from meddling in the work of the Committee and creating further obstacles by imposing artificial timelines or prejudging its conclusions. The need for a comprehensive ceasefire has been mentioned in a number of statements today.”
2021-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8937 (2021) · source
“Those forces support separatist militias and facilitate the efforts of non-governmental organizations as they seek to lead illegal cross-border piracy operations through the crossing point at Fish Khabur, in stark contravention of Security Council resolutions. They also use humanitarian assistance as a pretext to violate our sovereignty. Their most recent practice involves importing large shipments of wheat riddled with dangerous diseases through the Semalka crossing point, with the aim of inflicting damage on the Syrian people and the Syrian economy. We listened to the statement made by Special Envoy Pedersen, who a few days ago held talks in Damascus with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, as well as with the co-Chair of the national delegation to the Constitutional Committee meetings.”
2021-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8937 (2021) · source
“We have submitted to the Council a number of letters describing in detailed the Turkish regime’s practices and crimes against the Syrian people, including by depriving them of access to water and imposing its policy of Turkification. All of this should prompt the Security Council to undertake urgent and decisive deterrence. My delegation also demands that the Turkish regime be held accountable for its crimes and desperate attempts to impede stability in Syria, including its obstruction of humanitarian cross-line convoys and the implementation of the six-month plan. In this regard, we cannot but note the practices of the United States forces illegitimately present in north-eastern Syria.”
2021-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8937 (2021) · source
“My delegation also regrets that the report disregards the catastrophic consequences of the illegitimate, immoral and inhumane siege imposed by the United States of America and the European Union against the Syrian people. We call for the immediate and unconditional lifting of the illegal coercive measures in place, which have caused the suffering of each and every individual Syrian. For the sake of truth and to be clear, any objective assessment of the complexities of the humanitarian situation in Syria lead to one conclusion, namely, that the root cause is the Turkish regime, with its practices, crimes and sponsorship of terrorist organizations and entities affiliated to it in the north and north-west of my country.”
2021-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8937 (2021) · source
“My delegation would like to make it clear that some of the early recovery projects referred to in the report (S/2021/1030) have been implemented for years, even before the adoption of resolution 2585 (2021). We had hoped to see a list of new vital projects that would contribute to strengthening resilience, improving the humanitarian situation and facilitating the dignified and safe return of displaced persons. It comes as no surprise that some members of the Security Council have not tried to hide their hostility towards resolution 2585 (2021) or their rejection of its provisions. We will have to announce the names of those countries.”
2021-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8937 (2021) · source
“Those countries raise unjustified questions regarding the definition of early recovery projects and obstruct the adoption of a strategic framework for cooperation between the Syrian Government and the United Nations in the humanitarian field, despite the significant flexibility that has been demonstrated by the Syrian Government. Moreover, those countries continue to politicize humanitarian and development work and to attempt to impose conditions on the provision and delivery of aid. How else can we explain the fact that financing for the humanitarian response plan was reduced by more than $200 million, despite increased humanitarian needs?”
2021-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8937 (2021) · source
“The facts demonstrate that serious and sincere cooperation with the Syrian Government and stepping up action along the lines ensure the achievement the desired goals and avert the risks and shortcomings inherent to the cross- border mechanism. Thirdly, with respect to rapid recovery projects, my country’s delegation expresses its extreme disappointment that certain Western countries, within the framework of the so-called donors community, are impeding the implementation and quantitatively and qualitatively upgrading of many such projects.”
2021-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8937 (2021) · source
“The Secretary-General’s report states that cross- border humanitarian operations are fraught with risks, thereby demonstrating the validity of our position with regard to the mechanism. The report notes that the operation is managed remotely and that part of the area covered is under the control of a local authority that is generally believed to have close ties with non-State armed group designated by the Security Council as a terrorist organization, allowing it control aid. My delegation is astonished by the report’s exaggeration of the number of people in need in the north-west. The report’s description that activities inside the country complements and cannot replace cross-border action is not objective and based on unrealistic assessments.”
2021-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8937 (2021) · source
“They are directly linked to the illegitimate presence of United States forces in the area and their sponsorship of the Jaysh Maghawir Al-Thawra terrorist organization. We emphasize the need for that shameful camp to be closed, as it continues to only exacerbate the suffering of Syrian citizens and support armed groups. Secondly, with regard to promoting the transparency and efficiency of the cross-border mechanism, my country reiterates our principled position rejecting that politicized mechanism, as it constitutes a stark violation of the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria. We also reject the mechanism because of the grave shortcomings undermining its actions, foremost of which is its failure to guarantee that assistance reaches its intended beneficiaries, not terrorist organizations.”
2021-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8937 (2021) · source
“The report also notes that the Syrian Government authorized a UNICEF and World Health Organization cross-line convoy containing vaccines against the coronavirus disease to Ras Al-Ayn and Tal Abyad. My country’s Government also authorized a United Nations humanitarian assessment mission in that area. That was the sixth such authorization granted by the Syrian Government, pursuant to resolution 2585 (2021), also coincided with the publication of the Secretary-General’s report, confirming that all access requests have been granted by the Syrian Government. With regard to the Rukban camp, the report confirms that humanitarian access to the camp remains beyond reach. We had hoped that the report would clarify the reasons that have prevented such access, which we have already laid out before the Council.”
2021-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8937 (2021) · source
“That resulted in the delivery of a food and non-food aid convoy by the World Food Programme, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the United Nations Population Fund to Sarmada on 9 December. The Syrian State’s achievements in enhancing cross-line access in the north-west should be commended by the Security Council. We regret that the report fails to explicitly and unequivocally attribute responsibility to the Turkish regime and its terrorist affiliates for obstructing the duly implementation of the mandate. With regard to the north-east, the report confirms that access for most of the deliveries was made possible and that 625 truckloads and seven airlifts were delivered.”
2021-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8937 (2021) · source
“In response, a hysterical, aggressive campaign was carried out by the Turkish regime and its terrorist affiliates. The contents of the convoy were unable to be distributed for months. The same campaign obstructed another convoy scheduled to arrive in Sarmada on 9 November, during the visit to Aleppo by Mr. David Beasley, Executive Director of the World Food Programme. Terrorist groups targeted the routes to be taken by the convoy with missiles. Another convoy scheduled on 28 November was also blocked. The Syrian Government, based on its commitment to stepping up access to all parts of the country, approved the United Nations six-month plan and responded positively and in record time to all requests.”
2021-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8937 (2021) · source
“Mr. Sabbagh (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Arabic): My country’s delegation has taken note of the report of the Secretary-General (S/2021/1030), submitted pursuant to resolution 2585 (2021), and listened closely to the briefing by Mr. Martin Griffiths. I would like to make the following remarks. First, with regard to cross-line access, the Syrian Government continues to spare no effort to facilitate the operations of the United Nations and its specialized agencies in implementation of the mandate set out in resolution 2585 (2021), while the Turkish regime and its affiliated terrorist groups continue to obstruct them in Idlib. Cooperation between the Syrian Government and the United Nations in late August enabled the cross- line delivery of a World Food Programme convoy from Aleppo to Sarmada in north-western Syria.”
2021-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8937 (2021) · source
“That is why accountability must apply to all war crimes, including occupation, aggression and support for terrorism, for which certain States are responsible, particularly the destruction of a Member State and the dismantling of its institutions based on lies that are fabricated and presented in the Security Council itself or on a biased interpretation of the Charter of the United Nations. Such States must end their hypocrisy and their policy of double standards and stop exploiting such policies for their own political purposes.”
2021-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8921 (2021) · source
“That reflects the way in which the United States and its Western allies dominate the work of the OPCW and pursue a hegemonic policy to serve their agendas, which has contributed to widening the divide and mistrust pertaining to the credibility, professionalism and impartiality of the work of the OPCW teams, thereby undermining its role. In conclusion, those who talk about accountability in their statements are using the noble values of justice for political purposes. That happens in the OPCW. The basic principles of accountability require abandoning a selective approach that serves the interests of a particular State.”
2021-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8921 (2021) · source
“The disgraceful performance of the Fact- Finding Mission in the investigation of the Douma incident, whose scandalous repercussions continue to this day, the illegal establishment of the Investigation and Identification Team to use it as a sword of Damocles to undermine the national choices of certain countries and their rejection to hegemony politics and the unprecedented decision taken by the Conference of the States Parties to suspend Syria’s enjoyment of its rights and privileges, which is not based on any documented facts or conclusions, amount to hostile practices against a State party that voluntarily joined the Convention.”
2021-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8921 (2021) · source
“While we wish to see the OPCW as the guarantor of the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and play its role regarding this important pillar of disarmament, we regret that it has become a platform that is exploited by a State, or a group of States, to target certain States, such as Syria or other countries.”
2021-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8921 (2021) · source
“That was blocked for very unconvincing reasons, which really mask a sabotage attempt. The Syrian Arab Republic reiterates that the information contained in its initial declaration and subsequent declarations is complete and accurate. We have always demonstrated openness to working transparently and objectively with the Declaration Assessment Team to provide all relevant clarifications. We therefore categorically reject the questioning of that information. We believe that certain States are guilty of lies and exaggeration as part of a hostile policy towards Syria.”
2021-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8921 (2021) · source
“It must therefore respect the information provided by Syria and present it honestly to the States parties. Furthermore, in spite of what was claimed in the latest report of the Director-General and in Mrs. Nakamitsu’s briefing today, the Technical Secretariat does not have a mandate to determine whether that information is valid from a scientific point of view. As to the issuance of visas to international officials, that is a sovereign right of Syria, based purely on the professionalism and objectivity of the work of those officials. In that regard, it is important to emphasize that multilateralism is based not on the work of individuals but on that of the team as a whole. Syria showed significant flexibility to facilitate the holding of the twenty-fifth round of consultations. In fact, we agreed to send Syrian experts to The Hague.”
2021-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8921 (2021) · source
“Sixthly, the Syrian Arab Republic regularly presents information regarding the possession and use of toxic chemical weapons and materials by terrorists. Most recently, that was done through a letter sent from Syria to the President of the Security Council and the Secretary-General dated 29 November. That letter demonstrates the collusion between the Turkish intelligence services and the terrorist Al-Nusra Front/ Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham. As far as the work of the Declaration Assessment Team, my delegation would like to clarify that its mandate is limited to providing assistance to the Syrian National Committee on its initial declaration. Syria voluntarily welcomed work with the Team and cooperated with it for many years, through 24 rounds of consultation. Syria stresses that the Team is not an investigative body.”
2021-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8921 (2021) · source
“Visas were delivered to all but one member of the Team. That member was not issued a visa because past experience proved him not to be objective. I stress that only one visa was withheld, not several, as some countries have claimed in their statements. The Team can visit Damascus tomorrow, if it so wishes. Fifthly, my country welcomed the request of the Technical Secretariat to send a Fact-Finding Mission to Syria. We hope that it will finish its investigations and issue its reports regarding incidents reported by Syria about the use of chemical weapons by terrorist groups. Those incidents happened more than five years ago. In her briefing, I would have liked Mrs. Nakamitsu to have urged the organization’s Team to draw up its report on the matter.”
2021-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8921 (2021) · source
“Secondly, the Syrian Arab Republic presented the OPCW its ninety-sixth monthly report, in which it reiterated continuous cooperation with the organization and expressed its regret with regard to attempts to undermine that cooperation. Furthermore, Syria responded to non-positive references about it contained in the latest report of the Director-General (see S/2021/989). Thirdly, my country agreed to extend for six months the tripartite agreement among the Syrian Arab Republic, the OPCW and the United Nations Office for Project Services. That includes the facilitation and planning of OPCW activities and missions in Syria. Fourthly, my country has welcomed the visit by the Declaration Assessment Team to Damascus for the holding of the twenty-fifth round of consultations as agreed between the two parties.”
2021-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8921 (2021) · source
“Despite the prevailing politicization in the work of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Syria has continued to cooperate with the OPCW in furtherance of the commitments my country undertook from the day it acceded to the Chemical Weapons Convention. Our accession was followed by my country’s elimination of its entire stock of chemical weapons and their production facilities in record time. In that regard, I would like to mention some aspects of cooperation between Syria and the OPCW. First, my country continues its ongoing consultations and cooperation with the OPCW in order to prepare for the planned meeting between the Foreign Minister of Syria, Mr. Fayssal Mekdad, and the OPCW Director-General, Mr. Fernando Arias.”
2021-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8921 (2021) · source
“However, one State, which is a depositary of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and a sponsor of the 1995 decision on the Middle East, namely, the United States of America, has continued to boycott the work of that important Conference and has continued to protect Israel and its enormous arsenal of various weapons of mass destruction. We would have liked to have seen the same enthusiasm that we saw today from the United States delegation when it came to the elimination of Israeli arsenal, which represents a threat to the peace and security in the Middle East. My country reiterates our unequivocal condemnation of the use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere and under any circumstances.”
2021-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8921 (2021) · source
“Mr. Sabbagh (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Arabic): At the outset, I congratulate you, Mr. President, on assuming the presidency of the Security Council this month. I also thank your predecessor for his efforts during his presidency of the Council last month. Last week, the second Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction took place, in which my country participated actively given its firm belief that it is necessary to eliminate weapons of mass destruction, which are a threat to regional and international peace and security. My country also stressed the importance of the five nuclear-weapon States participating in the Conference as observers, because they play a fundamental role in supporting consultations aimed at creating such a zone.”
2021-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8921 (2021) · source
“We reiterate that Member States have the right to acquire, manufacture, transfer and retain such weapons for their defence and security needs and to protect their citizens.”
2021-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8909Resumption1 (2021) · source
“Fourthly, my delegation emphasizes the need to strengthen national efforts and intensify bilateral and multilateral cooperation to combat this grave phenomenon. Fifthly, my delegation calls on all States that produce those types of weapons to ensure that legal restrictions are applied to prevent the illicit trade in them, and to verify their final destination. We note with concern that some States have not been fulfilling their obligations with regard to final destination or end user agreements and are permitting or condoning the transfer of large quantities of their weapons stockpiles to terrorist groups in a number of countries, including in my own. The Syrian Arab Republic calls for the full implementation of the relevant international treaties and for the end of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.”
2021-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8909Resumption1 (2021) · source
“My delegation considers such acts to be in flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations, the principles of international law and friendly relations among States, and the relevant Security Council resolutions on countering terrorism. Those acts must be explicitly and clearly condemned and deterrent measures must be taken in response to them. Thirdly, my delegation stresses that facilitating the acquisition by terrorist entities of small arms and light weapons and other types of weapons constitutes a threat to the security and stability of our countries and exposes civilians, including women and children, to significant risks. Consequently, it is imperative that Member States take joint efforts to adopt regulatory frameworks and measures to prevent the transfer of such weapons and end the illicit trade in them.”
2021-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8909Resumption1 (2021) · source
“My delegation would like to take this opportunity of this open debate to make the following points. First, over the past 10 years in my country, Syria, certain Governments have been supplying terrorist groups, namely, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham and the Al-Nusra Front, also known as Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, and individuals and entities associated with them, with various types of weapons, including small arms and light weapons. That aggressive approach has had serious repercussions; it has perpetuated the crisis and claimed the lives of thousands of Syrians. Secondly, some Governments, known to all, have funded the procurement of those weapons and facilitated their smuggling to other countries to destabilize them.”
2021-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8909Resumption1 (2021) · source
“Mr. Sabbagh (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Arabic): My delegation believes in the critical role that the United Nations system plays in the matter of disarmament to fulfil the objectives of its Charter, foremost of which is to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. We join previous speakers in stressing the importance of countering the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. At the same time, we stress that the General Assembly and its First Committee are the most appropriate forums for dealing with issues related to small arms and light weapons, as they enable all Member States to submit proposals and address relevant concerns. The General Assembly and the First Committee provide the necessary framework to engage in a common endeavour to achieve the shared objectives of Member States.”
2021-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8909Resumption1 (2021) · source
“Any claim that such measures have no impact on the lives of Syrians is a mere fabrication to cover up the facts. In conclusion, Syria reiterates its demand for an end to the illegal presence of the United States and Turkish forces on our territories and for stopping their aggressive practices and looting of the country’s economic resources and wealth. We also call for the immediate and unconditional lifting of unilateral coercive measures imposed on the Syrian people. We stress that improving the humanitarian situation requires support for the efforts of the Syrian State to meet the humanitarian needs and provide basic services to all Syrians, as well as achieving the development goals and creating conditions conducive to the dignified, safe and voluntary return of displaced persons and refugees.”
2021-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8888 (2021) · source
“The United States Administration and the European Union continue to use coercive measures to stifle Syrians inhumanely and deprive them of their basic needs — food, medicine, health care, electricity and fuel — in particular as winter approaches, as well as to undermine our efforts to counter the coronavirus disease pandemic. All of that contradicts their alleged humanitarian concern and reveals their false slogans regarding their respect for the principles of international law and the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, as well as all United Nations resolutions, which time and again have affirmed the illegality of those measures and their violation of human rights. They have also deliberately disregarded the appeals of the Secretary-General and his representatives.”
2021-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8888 (2021) · source
“In addition to that, those same Governments have again blocked the adoption of the strategic framework for cooperation between the United Nations and the Syrian Government, which would enable United Nations agencies to relaunch development programmes and projects in Syria and support efforts to achieve sustainable development. That raises the question of how one could contemplate extending the provisions of the resolution later this year. What will the Secretary-General say in his substantive report to be issued pursuant to the resolution? Is it possible that the percentage of funding allocated to early-recovery projects does not exceed 5 per cent of the total pledges?”
2021-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8888 (2021) · source
“However, the Turkish occupying forces and the proxies of their terrorist organizations continue to hinder humanitarian access from inside Syria. They continue to refuse access for the Al-Atarib convoy to the north-west of the country — a convoy which the Syrian Government approved in April 2020. Moreover, they continue to weaponize water against civilians. There is also deliberate intent on the part of Western Governments to not respect the provisions of operative paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of the resolution, for they continue to hamper any effort aimed at making progress on humanitarian access from within Syria and at promoting humanitarian activities in the areas of early recovery and strengthening resilience, as provided for in the resolution, which is also part of the humanitarian response plan.”
2021-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8888 (2021) · source
“Yesterday, on behalf of my Government, I sent two identical letters to the Council and to the Secretary-General conveying the position of the Syrian Government on the report of the Secretary-General on the humanitarian situation (S/2021/890). Given the limited time available here, I invite the members of the Council to read those two letters and take note of our detailed observations on the report, especially after we exposed errors in the statistics and responses provided by United Nations agencies and the misinformation therein. We call for an investigation of the matter, the correction of the errors and the restoration of the reputation of the Syrian Government, as well as for ensuring that this does not happen again. It has been over three and a half months since the Council adopted resolution 2585 (2021).”
2021-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8888 (2021) · source
“That once again proves Israel’s involvement in undermining security and stability in Syria. The Syrian Arab Republic underscores its commitment to continuing its efforts to liberate its occupied territories and combating terrorism in tandem with its political efforts. Such terrorists attacks and terrorist acts will not deter Syria from continuing its efforts to restore security and stability and rid our people of all terrorist groups, irrespective of what they are called. Syria calls upon the Security Council to assume its responsibilities and stop Israeli acts of aggression, which threaten peace and stability in the region, and to compel the Governments known to be sponsors of terrorism to halt their violations of international law and comply fully with the Council’s resolutions on counter-terrorism.”
2021-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8888 (2021) · source
“It is regrettable and reprehensible that some Western countries blocked the adoption by the Security Council of a draft press release submitted by the delegation of the Russian Federation to condemn that terrorist attack. That Western approach reflects the double standards and hostile attitude of those countries. We also condemn the fact that Israeli occupying forces escalated their hysterical aggression against Syria — whether by bombing southern areas two days ago following the reconciliation in Dara’a and the restoration of security and stability there, its ongoing aerial aggression against Al-Tanf, which is controlled by American forces, or its assassination of freedom fighter and former member of the Syrian Parliament Medhat Al-Saleh, using snipers who fired bullets originating from the occupied Syrian Golan.”
2021-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8888 (2021) · source
“The cowardly terrorist attack in the heart of the Syrian capital, Damascus, on the morning of 20 October, which targeted a bus with two explosive devices, coincided with the meetings of the Constitutional Committee. That was a clear indication of attempts by terrorist organizations and their foreign sponsors to foil efforts at reaching a political solution and to hinder the work of the Syrian Government to restore security and stability throughout Syria. That terrorist attack, which left 14 civilians dead and many injured passers-by, was clearly aimed at raising the morale of the terrorists sponsored by the American and Turkish occupying forces in Idlib, Al-Tanf and other parts of northern Syria as they fall before the Syrian Arab Army and its allies’ achievements.”
2021-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8888 (2021) · source
“Against that backdrop, the Syrian Arab Republic reiterates its commitment to a political solution based on a Syrian-owned and Syrian-led intra-Syrian national dialogue, to the Constitution, which is a Syrian national sovereign affair, and to the Constitutional Committee, which is itself sovereign. Syria stresses that outside parties must refrain from interfering in, or hampering the work of, the Committee by imposing artificial time frames or predetermined conclusions, in line with respect for the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria, as affirmed by all the relevant resolutions of the Security Council.”
2021-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8888 (2021) · source
“Mr. Sabbagh (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Arabic): We listened closely to the briefings provided by Mr. Geir Pedersen and Mr. Martin Griffiths. I should like to make the following remarks. The meetings of the sixth session of the Constitutional Committee, held last week in Geneva, illustrated serious engagement on the part of the national team, which exhibited a spirit of cooperation and a positive attitude. They sought to put forward constitutional principles that responded to the aspirations, rights and ambitions of the Syrian people to safeguard national sovereignty, independence, security, stability and socioeconomic well-being.”
2021-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8888 (2021) · source
“Hence the other half of the countries that took part in the Conference did not vote in favour of the resolution. That is just an example of how the United States distorts information. I would like to underscore that the Syrian Arab Republic is not trying to jeopardize the work of the OPCW. Rather, we are defending its professionalism and objectivity. We reject the attempts by some States to use the organization as a tool to achieve their objectives against Syria. If those States do not change their destructive behaviour and disruptive agendas against my country, we will be unable to have objective discussions on this dossier and bring it to an objective and professional conclusion.”
2021-10-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8872 (2021) · source
“That has also become very clear. They are misinterpreting the text of the Convention’s to establish illegitimate mechanisms and adopt a resolution against Syria. That sets a dangerous precedent in the work of the organization. In that regard, I would like to remind the representative of the United States, who demonstrated his excellent mathematical skills, that 167 States participated in the Conference of the Parties in April. Therefore, the 87 countries that supported the resolution represent almost half the number of countries that took part in the Conference. The United States colleague disregarded the fact that 34 countries abstained in the voting and that 31 countries were not present, while 15 countries voted against the resolution.”
2021-10-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8872 (2021) · source
“My delegation expresses grave concerns about the delay by the Fact-Finding Mission in announcing the outcome of its investigation into incidents reported by the Syrian Government since 2017 on the use of chemical weapons by terrorist groups. We also express concern about the fabrication of evidence years after other alleged incidents took place. Moreover, the Fact- Finding Mission continues to disregard the information we provide on terrorist groups that possess chemical weapons and on preparing to use them and fabricate incidents and accusations against the Syrian Arab Army. Some members of the Security Council insist on politicizing this dossier by doubting Syria’s cooperation. That has become clear. They attempt to conceal the practices of terrorist groups that used chemical weapons against Syrian citizens and the Syrian Arab Army.”
2021-10-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8872 (2021) · source
“In that regard, I would like to refer to the article featured in The Daily Mail on 5 September in which the British Broadcasting Corporation admitted that a Radio 4 documentary on the alleged incident in Douma contained errors and false allegations. That proves once again that open- source information can be manipulated easily; it lacks credibility. The flawed methods of work adopted by the Fact- Finding Mission when investigating the alleged incident in Douma were also adopted in its investigation into other incidents. The Fact-Finding Mission lacked commitment to the rules outlined in the Chemical Weapons Convention, including collection of evidence and samples while preserving the chain of custody. It relied on open sources and information provided by terrorist groups and their affiliates, such as the White Helmets.”
2021-10-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8872 (2021) · source
“My delegation previously clarified to the Security Council the importance of those two cylinders for Syria as legal and material evidence to reject the claims related to that incident and as a proof that terrorist groups possessed toxic chemicals. My delegation rejects the attempts by some States to distract attention from condemning the Israeli aggression against Syria’s sovereignty, which led to the destruction of the two cylinders. Instead, they focus only on technical and procedural matters. Syria and other countries have called for a review of the report on the alleged incident in Douma. It is fabricated and full of lies.”
2021-10-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8872 (2021) · source
“The report of the Director-General addressed the visit of the Declaration Assessment Team. It held Syria responsible for the Technical Secretariat’s inability to plan for the missions of its various teams. That is inaccurate, non-objective and we categorically reject it. All members recall when the Director-General spoke in this Chamber in June (see S/PV.8785) about postponing the Team’s visit until after summer, at a time when Syria had a genuine interest in accelerating discussions with the Team and closing the dossier. Some States continue to raise the issue of the two cylinders related to the alleged incident in Douma.”
2021-10-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8872 (2021) · source
“Not granting an entry visa to a member of the Declaration Assessment Team must not negatively affect the performance of the Team as a whole. Moreover, the OPCW has several experts and specialized personnel to replace someone who proved to be non-objective. Just for clarification, the Declaration Assessment Team is not an investigative team. I noticed during the statements by some colleagues that there is some confusion. The Declaration Assessment Team is not an investigative team. It is a Team that should help the Syrian National Committee in presenting its declaration. Despite that fact, the Syrian National Committee accepted a proposal, later submitted by the Technical Secretariat, to hold the round of consultations at its headquarters in The Hague. It appears that the information of my colleague from France needs to be updated.”
2021-10-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8872 (2021) · source
“We also welcomed the meeting to be held between the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and the OPCW Director-General in Damascus. The focal points on both sides are preparing for that meeting. My country also welcomed the visit of the Declaration Assessment Team to Damascus to hold the twenty-fifth round of consultations pursuant to the date agreed upon by both parties. We granted the necessary visas to all the members of the Team, with the exception of one person, after we asked for his replacement. In that regard, we note that entry visas are granted based on national and sovereign procedures and instructions applicable by the Syrian State to all employees of the United Nations, its agencies and international organizations, including the OPCW. That measure was therefore not an exception.”
2021-10-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8872 (2021) · source
“The statements made by the representatives of some States today clearly demonstrated that they continue to turn a deaf ear to the truth. They continue to politicize this dossier by insisting on levelling baseless accusations and focusing on procedural details, which should not concern the Security Council. They also deliberately disregard the serious measures that Syria has taken and our genuine cooperation with the OPCW. With regard to the briefing by the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, my delegation regrets the continued lack of balance and impartiality in her briefings while ignoring over the past years Syria’s concerns and the information that it has provided. On 16 September, Syria submitted its 95th monthly report on the activities related to the destruction of chemical weapons and their production facilities.”
2021-10-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8872 (2021) · source