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

“Mr. Sabbagh (Syria) (spoke in Arabic): I would like to congratulate you, Mr. President, on assuming the presidency of the Security Council this month and to thank your predecessor for her efforts last month. In speaking to the General Assembly on 27 September (see A/76/PV.16), our Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Mr. Fayssal Mekdad, said that the Syrian Arab Republic reiterated once again that it categorically condemned and rejected any use of chemical weapons under any circumstance, by whomever, whenever and wherever. It is for that reason that Syria voluntarily joined the Chemical Weapons Convention and met all its obligations in record time. Syria continues to cooperate with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to close this dossier as soon as possible.”
2021-10-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8872 (2021) · source
“They are even using water as a tool to serve their political games and as a weapon against millions of Syrian citizens to achieve political and regional gains in total disregard for the principles of international law, international humanitarian law and international and bilateral instruments and agreements, as well as the principle of good-neighbourliness. My country reiterates its call to the Security Council and the Secretariat to shoulder their responsibilities to put an end to the crimes of the Turkish occupation and to end the presence of its military forces on the territories of the Syrian Arab Republic.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8866 (2021) · source
“It is unfortunate that the efforts of the Syrian State and friendly countries are faced with the attempts of some to exploit the suffering of the Syrian people and leverage that suffering to achieve aims that are far from being humanitarian objectives and do not serve the interests of the Syrian people, including by relying on the reports of committees that have proved time and again that they are politicized mechanisms and are not professional, objective or credible in their work. Their main objective is to issue reports that will allow certain hostile countries to defame Syria’s image. I must also refer to the aggressive and destructive practices carried out by the Turkish regime on Syrian territories through its support for terrorism and by killing, destroying, Turkification and the plundering of Syrian wealth.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8866 (2021) · source
“Recovery projects and resilience support for all sectors must start early, particularly for those of water, energy, education, health care and others, to provide basic services to the Syrian people and improve their living and humanitarian situation, in addition to facilitating the safe and dignified return of displaced persons and refugees to their homes. To achieve that objective, all relevant Syrian parties are intensifying their efforts to facilitate such a voluntary return and guarantee that the basic needs of returnees are met. To that end, we have taken many measures and issued a number of decrees.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8866 (2021) · source
“It is high time to put an end to this war and to end the illegitimate foreign military presence on Syrian territories, including the United States military forces in the north-east and the Turkish military forces in the north-west. They must withdraw fully. We call for the immediate lifting, without any preconditions, of the unilateral coercive measures imposed by the United States of America and the European Union, and for support to be provided to the efforts of the Syrian State and its allies to combat terrorism, restore security and stability, and rebuild and rehabilitate the damaged infrastructure.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8866 (2021) · source
“That also allowed residents to return home safely and peacefully. The role of the Security Council in maintaining international peace and security was used by some to interfere in the affairs of my country and to disrupt security and stability in Syria over the past 10 years. We must therefore speak out to expose those practices and call on those countries to end that disruptive behaviour and to learn from the lessons of their failed and senseless wars of past years. The war imposed on us by Governments known to all, through varied and diverse means, has claimed the lives of many. That war has undermined the achievements of an ancient civilization and has led to the loss of the significant development gains made by the Syrian people over many decades.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8866 (2021) · source
“Pedersen noted in his briefing about his intention to issue invitations to the sixth session of the Constitutional Committee, to be held in Geneva in October. We reaffirm the need for the Special Envoy to maintain his role as a facilitator and to convey what he sees in an impartial, neutral and objective manner. The recent settlements and reconciliation in Dara’a governorate prove once again that the Syrian Government is keen to restore security and stability to all parts of the country while ensuring the safety of its citizens and ending the bloodshed of innocents. The patience and wisdom of the Syrian leadership, along with the efforts of our Russian friends, helped to reach an agreement to restore stability in the areas that witnessed tensions recently in Dara’a and its rural area, in south-west Syria.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8866 (2021) · source
“The Government also stressed the need for the process to be Syrian-led and Syrian-owned, without any foreign intervention or any attempt to impose artificial deadlines or advance conclusions to the work of the Committee, given that the constitution and anything related thereto is a Syrian matter to be determined by the Syrians themselves, pursuant to the principle of the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic. It is an established principle that is reaffirmed by all relevant Security Council resolutions on the situation in my country. The Syrian Government is continuing to cooperate with the Special Envoy, Mr. Pedersen, and we welcomed his visit to Damascus on 11 and 12 September, where he conducted constructive discussions. We also welcome what Mr.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8866 (2021) · source
“Mr. Sabbagh (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Arabic): The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Syrian Arab Republic, in his address to the General Assembly yesterday (see A/76/PV.16), indicated that the Syrian Government has always been open to any genuine and impartial political initiatives or efforts to assist the Government in ending the crisis that targeted the State and the people of Syria, despite the obstacles placed by countries that have no interest in these continued efforts to achieve stability in Syria while maintaining our national pillars. The Syrian Government has facilitated the launch of the work of the Constitutional Committee by contributing to reaching an agreement on the formation and rules of procedure of the Committee.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8866 (2021) · source
“We will continue to provide the facilities necessary for the work of the United Nations and its specialized agencies while fully adhering to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic. We look forward to genuine partnerships that support the efforts of the Syrian State to restore peace and stability, provide assistance to civilians in need, enhance development efforts and rehabilitate the infrastructure and facilities that are necessary for the dignified, voluntary and safe return of displaced persons to their homes.”
2021-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8861 (2021) · source
“And, sixthly, it requires enabling the United Nations to finalize the agreement with the Syrian Government on the strategic framework that some Western Governments continue to obstruct, and to start implementing it to ensure support for efforts to achieve sustainable development and not be “left behind.” The United States and its allies must desist from that destructive approach and stop investing in terrorism and forming illegitimate alliances under the pretext of combating it. They should stop spending billions of dollars to wage futile and useless wars that destabilize States Members of the Organization. In conclusion, our hand is stretched out to embark upon a new stage of cooperation.”
2021-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8861 (2021) · source
“Fourthly, it requires the fulfilment of the pledges announced to finance the humanitarian response plan, which is funded only at 27 per cent to date — and we are in the last quarter of the year. Fifthly, it requires supporting the implementation of early-recovery projects, as called for in resolution 2585 (2021), increasing them in quantity and quality and rejecting any attempts by hostile countries to impose programmes and projects that are inconsistent with Syrian national interests.”
2021-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8861 (2021) · source
“My delegation stresses the need to compel the Turkish regime to stop using water as a weapon of war against Syrians for political purposes, in order to ensure the continuity of the functioning of the Allouk water station and the flow of drinking water to more than 1 million citizens, as well as the flow of the Euphrates River according to the rates agreed upon between the two countries. Thirdly, it requires the immediate and unconditional lifting of the immoral, inhumane and illegal siege imposed by the United States of America and the European Union on the Syrian people, which represents collective punishment and economic terrorism that seriously harms the Syrian Government’s humanitarian and development efforts and the ability of Syrians to meet their basic needs.”
2021-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8861 (2021) · source
“It prevents specialized laboratories from obtaining the necessary equipment to conduct the relevant tests. The Syrian Arab Republic reiterates that improving the humanitarian situation requires the following. First, it requires full respect for Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity — a principle stressed by all of the Council’s resolutions related to the situation in my country. Secondly, it requires an end to the illegal military presence of the United States and Turkey on Syrian territories and an end to the crimes and practices committed by their occupying forces, which seek to prolong the crisis, support terrorism and its proxy militias and plunder our wealth and economic resources.”
2021-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8861 (2021) · source
“I must point out the inhumane effects of the coercive measures imposed by some Western countries on Syria, which have led to significant shortages of food, medicine and medical supplies, fuel and electricity. My delegation stresses the need to urgently address the issue, especially with the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which poses an additional threat to the health of Syrians. Syria’s health sector is overburdened due to the lack of medicines, supplies and equipment of all kinds, in particular those needed to treat respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Those measures prevent us from securing those supplies. Britain, for example, which continues to claim to be committed to humanitarian action, obstructs efforts to enhance the capacity of the Syrian health sector to respond to COVID-19.”
2021-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8861 (2021) · source
“The report also confirmed the provision of aid to millions of Syrians in all 14 governorates, including food aid to approximately 4.8 million people. All those achievements would not have been possible without the cooperation, facilities and support provided by the Syrian Government. Although some Western countries hostile to my country continue their efforts to cover up those achievements and continue to promote the so-called cross-border mechanism and the fabricated reports presented by the Gaziantep office, my country will remain committed to working to deliver aid from within Syria. We will maintain our position and continue to call for an end to the politicized cross- border mechanism, which violates our sovereignty and territorial integrity. We will expose the hostile role played by the Gaziantep office.”
2021-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8861 (2021) · source
“On the other hand, upon approval of the Syrian Government and in close coordination with United Nations agencies and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, an inter-agency aid convoy was deployed to Dara’a in the south of the country. The World Food Programme resumed its monthly programmes and started to distribute food baskets after the convoy and humanitarian staff had safely arrived there, and aid reached those who needed it. With regard to the north-east, I refer to the recent relevant report (S/2021/735) of the Secretary-General, which confirms that “Between January and July, 1,588 trucks providing humanitarian assistance crossed lines into the north- east compared with 199 trucks during the same period in 2020. The World Health Organization (WHO) delivered three cross-line shipments, including two airlifts and one road convoy”.”
2021-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8861 (2021) · source
“Relevant Syrian authorities took all the measures necessary to ensure safe passage for the convoy and the security and safety of United Nations and national staff. The soldier Monawar Hasan Salim paid the ultimate price and became a martyr in the line of duty. As he was securing the passage of the convoy, he was killed by a mine that had been planted by terrorist proxies of the Turkish occupation forces on the trucks crossing road. It is reprehensible and to be condemned that some countries commend the Turkish regime at a time when it still obstructs the deployment of an aid convoy from within Syria to the Atarib region, in north-west Syria. The United Nations had been granted approval by the Syrian Government to deploy the convoy a year and a half prior, and approval had been renewed, but to no avail.”
2021-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8861 (2021) · source
“We hope that his visit will contribute to correcting the course in our relationship with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and strengthening cooperation with it, in accordance with the principles of humanitarian action set forth in General Assembly resolution 46/182 and the criteria of professionalism and objectivity, while avoiding politicization and the diktats of some Western Governments. After a long period of obstruction by the Turkish occupation forces and their proxy terrorist groups, the convoy of the World Food Programme, which was approved by the Syrian Government several months ago, was able to reach Sarmada, in north-west Syria, via a cross-line route from Aleppo, in coordination with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. That operation was successful, as confirmed by Mr. Griffiths.”
2021-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8861 (2021) · source
“Mr. Sabbagh (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Arabic): Since the previous Security Council meeting on the humanitarian situation in Syria (see S/PV.8841), a number of meetings and visits have taken place in the country with representatives of the United Nations and its specialized agencies and programmes, as the Syrian Government has continued its constructive engagement with the United Nations and other partners to improve the humanitarian situation and provide services and support to Syrians in need throughout the country. We listened today to the briefing by Mr. Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, in which he spoke of his visit to Syria and the meetings he held there.”
2021-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8861 (2021) · source
“In conclusion, all the unprecedented measures in addressing the Syrian chemical file, resorting to manipulating the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention and establishing illegal mechanisms that go beyond the obligations of the States parties to the Convention and imposing their funding from the regular budget, in addition to ignoring all the cooperation of Syria and progress made to date, as well as setting unworkable conditions to achieve the suspension of Syria’s rights and privileges in the organization, clearly prove the flagrant politicization of this file. This also proves the lack of credibility of the organization’s reports and the lack of objectivity and professionalism of its work.”
2021-09-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8849 (2021) · source
“Nakamitsu would have been honest in her briefing and speak in full about what Syria reported, namely, the aggression by Israel. She should not have been selective and said that Syria had reported an attack only. My delegation previously made clear that the Syrian National Authority is fully committed to implementing the Technical Secretariat’s request regarding those two cylinders and that it would not transfer them outside the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, as they are material and legal evidence, while taking into account the fact that the organization had previously caused damage to a number of samples that served as physical evidence because they were not handled with the required professionalism.”
2021-09-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8849 (2021) · source
“The destruction of the two cylinders related to that alleged incident as a result of a brutal Israeli attack on the site where they were stored on 8 June, which should clearly be condemned by the Security Council, has been used by some countries as a means to focus on only procedural matters, in complete disregard for the condemnation of that perfidious aggression. That is a continuation of the approach by those countries to turn a blind eye to the State terrorism practised by the Israeli occupation authorities, which, as Council members all know, still refuse to join the Chemical Weapons Convention and still possess a huge arsenal of other weapons of mass destruction that threatens peace and security in the Middle East. We hoped that Mrs.”
2021-09-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8849 (2021) · source
“That includes, for example, overlooking the methodology provided for in the verification annex, as well as the means for collecting evidence and samples and the rules for ensuring the chain of custody, as the Mission relies on open sources and information provided by terrorist organizations and their affiliates, such as the White Helmets. How can we be asked to believe that there is credibility and professionalism by the Fact-Finding Mission team while, to date, it has not issued reports on five investigations into incidents reported by the Syrian Arab Republic five years ago? For five years, the Fact-Finding Mission has not issued reports on those incidents, whereas it issued reports on alleged incidents by the armed terrorist group that took place years after the incidents to which I just referred.”
2021-09-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8849 (2021) · source
“After all those actions undertaken by the Syrian Government to cooperate with the OPCW, it is unfortunate that some question in the Council our cooperation with the Technical Secretariat, or misrepresent that cooperation through a politicized exploitation of technical and procedural matters that are not out of the ordinary. It is evident that the Fact-Finding Mission’s investigations into the alleged Douma incident have used erroneous methods of work, as the Mission has not adhered to the standard procedures pursuant to the Convention.”
2021-09-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8849 (2021) · source
“Fourthly, an entry visa was granted to the chief of the OPCW office in Damascus through an accelerated procedure — the standard procedure to grant a foreign national entry to Syria for the first time usually takes longer. We would like to note that, throughout its years of working with the OPCW, Syria has not denied a single entry visa to the organization’s staff. Fifthly, in line with Syria’s welcoming of a meeting between the Syrian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and the OPCW Director-General in Damascus on a date convenient for the Director- General, we have notified the Technical Secretariat of the focal point who would be in charge of preparing for such a meeting.”
2021-09-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8849 (2021) · source
“Secondly, the Syrian National Authority welcomes the twenty-fifth round of consultations with the Declaration Assessment Team, to be held in October in accordance with the commitments of both parties. In that regard, I would like to remind the Security Council that the OPCW Director-General is the one who did not wish to dispatch the Team in the summer, an issue he mentioned before the Council in his June briefing (see S/PV.8785). Thirdly, the tripartite agreement among the Syrian National Authority, the United Nations Office for Project Services and the OPCW has been extended. Syria has emphasized working expeditiously on such activities in order to ensure that the mission can be completed as soon as possible.”
2021-09-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8849 (2021) · source
“I would like to remind the members of the Security Council that the Syrian Arab Republic voluntarily joined the Chemical Weapons Convention and destroyed, in record time, its entire chemical-weapons programme. In addition, we are keen to continue our cooperation with the OPCW Technical Secretariat. Some exaggerate certain routine technical and procedural matters and exploit them to create false impressions. I would therefore like to highlight recent developments that Mrs. Nakamitsu did not report — developments that confirm that my country is engaged with the OPCW and is keen to cooperate with it in order to achieve the final closing of this dossier as soon as possible. First, on 15 August, Syria submitted its ninety-third report on its activities with regard to the destruction of chemical weapons and the facilities for their production.”
2021-09-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8849 (2021) · source
“Those accusations are, without a shred of doubt, a means of distracting the attention of the international community away from the use of such weapons by terrorist organizations that continue to be protected and sponsored. The misleading United States statements against my country in that regard are clear evidence that the United States Administration continues the aggressive approach it took more than 10 years ago by using its various agents to wage a fierce war against the Syrian people at all levels. The use by the United States representative of the words “Syrian regime” instead of “Syrian Government” more than 10 times in a single statement today is another affirmation that the United States Administration insists on maintaining that aggressive approach.”
2021-09-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8849 (2021) · source
“They have turned the meetings into a platform for questioning and misrepresenting our cooperation, as well as levelling false accusations and promoting lies against my country. The irony is that one of the States spearheading this approach — the United States of America — is the only State party to the Chemical Weapons Convention that has not met yet its Convention obligations on the destruction of its chemical-weapons arsenal. The Syrian Arab Republic has repeatedly expressed its strong condemnation of the use of chemical weapons by whomever, wherever and under any circumstances. We once again reiterate that we no longer have any chemical weapons, yet we face baseless accusations of the alleged use of chemical weapons.”
2021-09-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8849 (2021) · source
“Mr. Sabbagh (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Arabic): At the outset, I would like to congratulate India on presiding over the Security Council last month and to express to you, Madam President, our wishes for every success in conducting the business of the Council this month. The purpose of holding this monthly meeting is to brief the Council on the developments pertaining to the current work between the Syrian Arab Republic and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Technical Secretariat. Unfortunately, some Western States have derailed these monthly meetings and twisted them into a means of defamation against Syria through the politicization of technical issues.”
2021-09-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8849 (2021) · source
“We wish to stress that we are following the efforts of Special Envoy Pedersen closely and that we have renewed our commitment to a Syrian-owned and Syrian-led political solution in Syria. Further, we are constructively engaged in facilitating the sixth round of the small group of the Constitutional Committee as soon as possible. In that regard, we underscore the importance of full respect for the terms of reference and the rules and regulations of the Committee, of non-interference in its work and of avoiding attempts to impose any outcome or unreasonable or unrealistic time frame on the Committee’s work.”
2021-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8841 (2021) · source
“Each one of those actions and attacks is a grave violation of international law, the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant Security Council resolutions, all of which emphasize the necessity of respecting the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Syria. We welcomed the statement issued by the guarantor States of the Astana track issued at the outcome of their sixteenth round of talks held in Nur-Sultan in July. Accordingly, we thank Russia and Iran for contributing to the success of those talks. We demand that the Turkish regime fulfil its obligations under the Astana agreements and Sochi understandings and that it cease practices that do not contribute to creating an environment conducive to a political solution.”
2021-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8841 (2021) · source
“Until this very moment, Syria has been exercising self-restraint so as to avoid any confrontation that would harm innocent people. The well-coordinated yet ill-conceived campaign to level falsehoods against the Syrian Government has been met with utter silence by States members of the Council working in aggressive tandem with United States and Turkish forces and in cooperation with proxy separatist militias and terrorist entities on my country’s territory A blind eye has simply been turned on the Israeli attacks against the sovereignty of Syria, and there has been a total disregard of the attacks’ repercussions on the stability and security of the region.”
2021-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8841 (2021) · source
“Have Western countries — such as the United Kingdom, France and other countries of the European Union that have supported the terrorists — dealt with these bandits using any methods other than weapons, prosecution and neutralization? Syria reiterates its unequivocal rejection of all false allegations in relation to the situation in Dara’a. We deplore the humanitarian team’s mistaken approach to the situation in the south, which has constrained the freedom of civilians there. These false allegations are a misrepresentation of the facts on the ground and the result of the authors’ insistence that some reports adopt fabricated or biased narratives that directly or indirectly target the Syrian Government. Syria stresses its willingness to address the root causes of the instability in the south through dialogue.”
2021-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8841 (2021) · source
“Terrorists have killed numerous ordinary citizens in Syria and wounded or injured many more, including civilians and military personnel. Have we ever heard statistics such as these from the United Nations or the terrorists’ masters, whose reports are replete with statistics only when they want to tarnish the reputation of the Syrian State? Indeed, why is it that we have never heard anything about the terrorist attack against Al-Mataaiyah village in Dara’a governorate, which resulted in 40 casualties? Six houses were completely destroyed there. Water and electricity resources were also decimated. That is exactly what Boko Haram is doing in Nigeria.”
2021-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8841 (2021) · source
“Despite the misinformation spread by certain countries and international bodies with regard to the situation in Dara‘a Al-Balad, we would like to enlighten those who, having lost their critical judgment and their sense of balance, have blindly believed terrorist propaganda. I will cite a few statistics that will demonstrate the wisdom of the Syrian State. For example, 3,900 out of 4,600 case files of those wanted for their involvement in terrorist acts have been processed. More than 2,500 people have been returned to work. More than 1,700 people have been released from incarceration. On the other hand, the terrorists have assassinated 18 innocent municipality leaders and killed 2,050 members of the army and police forces and more than 65 civilians simply because they sided with the Syrian State.”
2021-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8841 (2021) · source
“This transition is facing great challenges as a result of the pressures, politicized conditions, restrictions and dictates imposed by Western countries on the role played by the United Nations. Some statements today described the situation in Syria in false and inaccurate ways, particularly with regard to Dara‘a Al-Balad, which, to be clear, is an area that has witnessed an escalation in hostilities by armed groups and terrorist elements. Upon the instructions of their paymasters, these groups have violated the ceasefire and de-escalation agreements brokered by our Russian friends. Both civilians and members of the Syrian army have been attacked and subjected to violence leading to the escalation we have seen in the south.”
2021-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8841 (2021) · source
“In addition, the absence of a monitoring and distribution mechanism that ensures that humanitarian assistance reaches its proper final destination has turned assistance into a tool and a lifeline for armed groups designated as terrorist entities. Sixthly, the inhumane behaviour of certain Western countries must stop. Those countries continue to exploit the plight of the Syrian people by politicizing every aspect of humanitarian work so as to achieve their own political goals. The United Nations and its humanitarian agencies should address the imbalances and gaps in these countries’ work by adopting a new approach, support early-recovery projects and contribute to the inevitable transition towards development work.”
2021-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8841 (2021) · source
“Fourthly, humanitarian work should be enhanced from within Syria, as that is the most effective approach, especially since the bulk of humanitarian and relief operations are carried out from inside Syria, in coordination with the Syrian Government, which facilitates the delivery of aid to all Syrians including to areas in the north-west, taking into account the safety of humanitarian workers during the delivery of such aid. Fifthly, the Security Council must put an end to the failing mechanism for cross-border aid delivery because it wastes resources, tarnishes and politicizes humanitarian action and violates Syrian sovereignty.”
2021-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8841 (2021) · source
“Immediate action by the Security Council and the Secretariat is therefore required in order to compel the Turkish regime to reopen that station and to respect international agreements by pumping water from the Euphrates River back to the levels and quantities agreed bilaterally by the two countries. Thirdly, humanitarian activities must include support for early-recovery projects and the rehabilitation of infrastructure to provide basic services such as education and health. We note that resolution 2585 (2021) included new and clear guidance on the need to expand the areas of humanitarian action, which requires practical implementation on the ground and the achievement of tangible results in that regard.”
2021-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8841 (2021) · source
“All their false justifications for their occupation will not persuade anyone. The Turkish occupation forces, affiliated terrorist groups and separatist militias continue to use water as a weapon of war against civilians by shutting off water from the Allouk station for the twenty-sixth time. This station is the lifeline for the more than 1 million citizens living in Hasakah and its countryside, providing them drinking water, which is now more critical because of the temperature increase. This situation risks becoming a humanitarian disaster. It is a criminal act and a flagrant violation of international agreements amounting to a crime against humanity and a war crime.”
2021-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8841 (2021) · source
“First, the unilateral coercive measures imposed by the United States and the countries of the European Union on Syria and its people must be lifted. These have had catastrophic repercussions as they prevent food, medicine, fuel and other basic necessities from reaching the Syrian people. They also directly impact the level, quality and effectiveness of the humanitarian and relief operations conducted by the United Nations and other international organizations in Syria and undermine the essence of the humanitarian work undertaken. Secondly, the occupation of north-east Syria by American forces and of north and north-west Syria by Turkish forces must end. They must stop depleting and plundering the Syrian people’s resources and national wealth. They violate Syria’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
2021-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8841 (2021) · source
“We look forward to realistic reports and a fresh approach to the humanitarian situation in Syria that addresses the challenges that greatly impact the humanitarian and relief work of the United Nations in the country. Syria has repeatedly clarified the real reasons for the worsening humanitarian and living conditions in the country and the inability of the Syrian Government to provide the basic needs of its citizens, advance the reconstruction process, rehabilitate the infrastructure damaged by terrorism and foreign aggression and take the measures necessary to address the coronavirus disease pandemic, including securing vaccines for the Syrian people. Syria reiterates that improving the humanitarian situation of Syrians requires the following.”
2021-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8841 (2021) · source
“Its close cooperation with friendly countries, the United Nations and the relevant international organizations in that regard has resulted in the return of a large number of Syrians to their homes. On the other hand, the United States of America and its Western allies continue to obstruct all initiatives related to the return of Syrians to their homeland and continue to misinform the media and propagate anti-Syrian propaganda by claiming that the conditions conducive to the return of Syrian refugees to their country are not yet in place. Syria welcomes Mr. Martin Griffiths, Under- Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, and his planned visit to Syria at the end of this month in order to update him on the situation on the ground and to learn about his preliminary vision for radical solutions to the humanitarian crisis in the country.”
2021-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8841 (2021) · source
“Mr. Sabbagh (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Arabic): At the outset, I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for having organized this joint debate on the political and humanitarian tracks in Syria, which optimizes the time and resources of the Security Council. The return of Syrian citizens to their country is a priority for Syria. In his inaugural speech on 17 July, the President of the Syrian Arab Republic renewed the call for Syrian citizens to return to their country. During the second session of the International Conference on the Return of Syrian Refugees, held in Damascus in July, the Syrian Government reiterated its intention, within its capabilities, to continue efforts to that end, to work to create the conditions to facilitate the safe and dignified return of its citizens and to provide them with decent living conditions.”
2021-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8841 (2021) · source
“The disease of politicization suffered by the OPCW has alienated it from the technical nature of its work and made it lose much of its credibility. Instead of being an honest guardian of the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, it has become a tool for some countries to target a State party to the Convention. It must therefore be restored to the right track and return to play its normal role as a key and unbiased pillar in the non-proliferation regime of chemical weapons.”
2021-08-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8830 (2021) · source
“The two cylinders constitute legal physical evidence in connection with the alleged incident in which terrorists used chemical weapons, resulting in the killing of innocent civilians. Thirdly, in its note dated 18 May 2018, the OPCW Technical Secretariat informed the Syrian Arab Republic that the two cylinders should be preserved pending a scientific and technical examination. In November 2020, a group of experts from the Technical Secretariat conducted such an assessment, which sought to determine measurements, content, quantity, metal density, chemical stability, radiography and photography. Syria has therefore fully upheld its obligations in compliance with the Technical Secretariat note. The Technical Secretariat has not requested Syria to do any further action.”
2021-08-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8830 (2021) · source
“First, on 8 June, one of the previously declared sites was subjected to a brutal Israeli attack, which led to the complete destruction of many rooms, fire extinguishers, vehicles and the two chlorine cylinders involved in the alleged Douma incident. Unfortunately, the report of the Director-General and the statements made by representatives of certain countries here have ignored and failed to condemn that attack, while remaining focused only on some technical aspects Secondly, in November 2020, the OPCW investigative team requested that the cylinders be relocated to the OPCW headquarters. At the time, the Syrian National Authority indicated that they could not be shipped outside Syrian territory, as they are subject to a judicial investigation.”
2021-08-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8830 (2021) · source
“The Director-General’s dodging and ignoring information and facts will not invalidate the truth that there are questions that must be answered and that there is a need to fixing deficiencies in the Mission’s working methods. The OPCW Director- General’s resolve to ignore many facts and substantiated scientific observations made by recognized experts is not the right way to demonstrate the professionalism of the work of the OPCW teams. Concerning the two cylinders related to the alleged Douma incident mentioned in the latest report of the Director-General (S/2021/692, annex) and noted in the statements of certain representatives, I would like to clarify the following points.”
2021-08-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8830 (2021) · source