YouSaid · the spoken record

Sinirlioğlu

lines on the record: 536
first: 2015-09-30
most recent: 2023-01-25
sittings or episodes: 74
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 take note of the fact that the Declaration Assessment Team continues its work to resolve outstanding issues caused by the regime’s deceptive declaration of its chemical-weapon stockpiles and production facilities. We expect that effort to yield concrete results soon. That is crucial in order to prevent the regime from repeatedly resorting to chemical weapons. Likewise, the Investigation and Identification Team and the Fact-Finding Mission in the Syrian Arab Republic are working on the remaining investigations on chemical-weapon use in Syria. We look forward to the early completion of those investigations.”
2020-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8764 (2020) · source
“Mr. Sinirlioğlu (Turkey): Let me also thank High Representative Izumi Nakamitsu for her briefing. The Syrian chemical file has been dragging in the Security Council for far too long. It is high time that we make headway and ensure accountability. We have carefully examined the eighty-fourth report (S/2020/961, annex) of the Director General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The report is yet more proof that there is still a lot to do to ensure accountability for the Syrian regime’s well-documented crimes against humanity. For seven years, since the first sarin-gas attack in Ghouta, the Council has not been able to achieve that objective.”
2020-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8764 (2020) · source
“The international community should not remain indifferent to the developments unfolding in Idlib. Otherwise, there will be repercussions on a much wider scale across Europe, in the region and beyond. As to the previous speaker’s statement, I would like to emphasize that it is a disgrace that he is still sitting behind the Syrian nameplate and telling us shamelessly that millions of Syrians, including the newly uprooted 560,000 children, are terrorists. He is not a legitimate representative of the Syrian people and he is not worthy of my response.”
2020-02-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8738 (2020) · source
“Any provocation and harassment will be retaliated against by all means. Turkey has been displaying the utmost restraint to avoid direct military confrontation. But this is a fight between right and wrong. Turkey is undertaking these efforts on behalf of the international community in order to protect millions of civilians, mostly women and children. Most members of the Council have thanked us for our tireless efforts. What we want from them is not only their gratitude; we want them to share in the responsibility. The fate of millions of civilians is our joint responsibility. It is time for the Security Council to say, “enough is enough”. The Council has to stop the regime’s war crimes and reckless behaviour, which pose a direct threat to international peace and security.”
2020-02-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8738 (2020) · source
“These are exactly the reasons why the regime and its backers are targeting the Turkish armed forces. The regime and its backers want to drag Turkey into their dirty war because Turkish soldiers stand in the way of the regime fulfilling its dream of a military solution. But there is a miscalculation here; the regime and its backers have for years been used to killing innocent civilians and members of the opposition. They should make no mistake — this time, they have targeted the Turkish armed forces directly. Some warlords in Damascus may not know the difference. Some extremist mercenaries fighting along with the regime may not know the difference. If they want to learn the hard way, they will. Turkey does not want war, but Turkey will not hesitate to use force if and when its security is threatened.”
2020-02-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8738 (2020) · source
“There is no doubt that the regime and its backers aim at depopulating Idlib. Yesterday’s events are a stark reminder that the regime is hell-bent on continuing its attacks to intimidate Syrian civilians and destroy the Syrian opposition and the prospects for a political solution. Today, the Turkish presence in Idlib represents hope for the millions of civilians stuck in that area and the only bulwark against the regime’s crimes against humanity. The Turkish presence in Idlib is the only reason why millions of Syrians can remain in their homeland without fear. It needs to be clear to everyone that our soldiers sacrificed their own lives to save the lives of civilians in Idlib. The Turkish presence in Idlib is also the sole guarantee for the continuation of humanitarian assistance.”
2020-02-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8738 (2020) · source
“In fact, another Russian delegation was in Ankara yesterday, on the very day of this dastardly attack on Turkish forces. Today, President Erdoğan spoke with President Putin. We have made it clear to the Russian side once again that we will not abandon our observation posts and we will continue our military reinforcement. We have a moral responsibility, at least, to protect the helpless, desperate children of Idlib. Some may interpret de-escalation of violence to mean that all forces are equally responsible for de-escalation. Following that logic would mean leaving those civilians defenceless and at the mercy of the regime. In that case, it is clear what almost 5 million people in the area would do — they would flee the country. But this is exactly what the murderous Al-Assad regime wants.”
2020-02-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8738 (2020) · source
“The Turkish contingent attacked yesterday had been deployed in accordance with existing de-escalation arrangements in Idlib to ensure the security of our military personnel serving at observations posts; to protect civilians against the regime’s aggression; to ensure rapid and uninterrupted humanitarian access to those in need; to prevent mass displacement movements into Turkey and beyond; to preserve the de-escalation area status of Idlib; and to contribute to the establishment of a nation-wide ceasefire, as called for by resolution 2254 (2015). These were the parameters of the Sochi memorandum of 17 September 2018. Our aim is to return to the status quo ante established then. We continue our dialogue with Russia on that basis.”
2020-02-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8738 (2020) · source
“The radar tracks show that regime and Russian aircraft were in formation flight during that time. Let me underline that the Turkish forces that were attacked were alone in that area. The logical conclusion therefrom is that they were deliberately attacked. We had prior coordination, in writing, with Russian forces about the location of our convoy. And air strikes continued despite the warnings we immediately issued, right after the very first attack. Even the ambulances that were sent for wounded soldiers were targeted. This was a belligerent act of aggression against Turkey. In self-defence, Turkish forces responded in kind.”
2020-02-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8738 (2020) · source
“Mr. Sinirlioğlu (Turkey): I thank the Secretary- General for his statement and Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for her briefing. It has been only 24 hours since we discussed the situation in Syria in this Chamber (see S/PV.8734). Yet new and grave developments warranted the Security Council’s further attention today. Yesterday, around the time the Council was in session, a Turkish military convoy was targeted by a series of air strikes for a duration of five hours. This heinous attack took place in the vicinity of the village of Balyun, in the Idlib de-escalation area. The convoy was deployed to reinforce a Turkish observation post and some of the fortifications. As a result of a series of air strikes that took place yesterday afternoon, we lost 34 soldiers. In addition, a significant number of members of the Turkish Forces were wounded.”
2020-02-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8738 (2020) · source
“Syria can still be a democratic, secular and stable country with secure borders and a strong economy. The Syrian people deserve nothing less. But they need our help. They need the Council to play its role to bring peace and security to Syria. As to the previous speaker’s delusional statement, I will not honour him with a response, because, I reiterate, I do not consider him a legitimate representative of the Syrian people.”
2020-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8734 (2020) · source
“Here I would also condemn the representative of the regime for his attempt to intimidate United Nations humanitarian officials. Nine years ago the Syrian people spoke out for democracy and a better future. But their legitimate demands were met with force, and they faced destruction and torture. The expectations of the Syrian people are still legitimate. The regime and its supporters continue to seek a military solution. What we understand from their actions is that they want to destroy the political process by killing each and every member of the opposition. The Council knows better than Al-Assad’s murderous regime that there is no alternative to a political solution in Syria. A Syrian-led, Syrian-owned political solution in line with resolution 2254 (2015) is still the only option.”
2020-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8734 (2020) · source
“We urge the international community to step up its contributions. The Secretary-General, in his recent report (S/2020/139), recommended the Tall Abyad border crossing as the most feasible alternative for cross- border operations in the north-east. We will take all measures necessary to operationalize that alternative, in full cooperation with the United Nations. We welcome that and will be ready to work with the members of the Security Council on the upcoming cross-border draft resolution. Cutting cross-border aid by not renewing that mechanism cannot be an option. Humanitarian assistance should not be the subject of petty negotiations. It is our joint responsibility to bring assistance to the millions of people in need in Syria. If we fail, history will not forgive us.”
2020-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8734 (2020) · source
“Turkey ensures the safe passage of lifeline convoys to millions of Syrians through the United Nations cross-border mechanism. Currently, people in the north-west are fully relying on cross-border aid. We are working with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to increase the capacity of the two existing crossing points. Today shelter continues to be the most pressing need on the ground. We urgently need temporary housing, makeshift schools and hospitals for the more than 1 million newly uprooted people, half of whom are children. We should also immediately address their needs in terms of food and medicine. We welcome the Secretary-General’s appeal to donors for an additional $500 million to meet the needs of newly displaced people over the next six months. But funding continues to fall short.”
2020-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8734 (2020) · source
“These are the main messages that we have been conveying to Russia, the guarantor of the regime, at all levels. Our talks with Russia to ensure that the regime acts in compliance with existing frameworks on Idlib are continuing. The regime’s deliberate attacks on our forces has been a turning point. We are now more determined than ever to preserve Idlib’s de-escalation status. As President Erdoğan stated very clearly again today, we will not withdraw our forces, and we will not abandon our observation posts. We will not allow the regime to act in a way that is contrary to the agreements on Idlib. Acting in self-defence, we have already reinforced our forces on the ground. We will continue without hesitation to take all necessary measures.”
2020-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8734 (2020) · source
“We have already made it clear that Turkey is not going to stand idly by. We are not going to just watch. We are already hosting 4 million Syrian refugees in our country and providing care and protection to 5 million people within Syria. Around 1.7 million of Syrians in Turkey are children. More than half a million Syrian babies were born in Turkey in the last nine years. Altogether, 9 million Syrians are under Turkey’s protection. Our presence on the ground gives hope to millions. We will continue to help our Syrian sisters and brothers; we will not let them down. As for the unfolding crisis, the road map is clear, and I would like to reiterate it once again. First, we need an immediate cessation of hostilities. Secondly, we need the full implementation of the Sochi memorandum. And, thirdly, we need to return to the status quo ante.”
2020-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8734 (2020) · source
“They can stay in the Idlib area and desperately hope to survive the indiscriminate attacks of the regime and its supporters, or they can leave their homes and run for their lives, under very harsh winter conditions. The strategy is not new. It has been the modus operandi of the regime from the beginning. That is how it has killed innocent people in order to hold onto power. We are therefore familiar with that plan of action. Now, the question is, what is our strategy? Will the international community stand idly by as millions of people are displaced and children continue to freeze to death? Will we continue to watch as schools and hospitals are bombed? The situation in Idlib is not just a humanitarian tragedy; we are faced with serious crimes against humanity. We have a collective responsibility to stop the massacre.”
2020-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8734 (2020) · source
“Mr. Sinirlioğlu (Turkey): First of all, I would like to thank UNICEF Executive Director Fore and Assistant Secretary-General Mueller for their very valuable briefings. I would also like to pay tribute to all humanitarian workers who continue to risk their lives to help the Syrian people, against all odds. Each and every day, we witness another tragic new phase of the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Syria. The reports of United Nations agencies tell the story of twenty-first century- style barbarism. Such brutality and disregard for human life is beyond comprehension. The Al-Assad regime and its supporters have a strategy that leaves civilians with two options.”
2020-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8734 (2020) · source
“Mr. Sinirlioğlu (Turkey): Yes, Mr. President, but I did not start this exchange, so I will end when they end. I will just say that I still regret that the previous speaker can exploit his presence in the Chamber by taking the floor and repeating all the delusions he has been repeating for the past nine years in the Security Council. I will not respond to him.”
2020-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8727 (2020) · source
“Mr. Sinirlioğlu (Turkey): I will be very short. Again, I will emphasize that the previous speaker does not represent Syrians. He represents only a very bloody regime that is waging a war against its own people. They do not deserve to be seated behind the Syrian name plate in this Chamber. Their continued presence behind the name plate is just a political aberration. It does not make them the legitimate representatives of the Syrian people. As I said, more Syrians are under our care than under theirs.”
2020-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8727 (2020) · source
“His regime has the blood of innocent people on its hands and lost its legitimacy a long time ago. His mere presence in the Council Chamber is an assault on the millions of Syrians who have suffered countless crimes at the hands of the regime. This tragedy will not end before the people of Syria have a legitimate Government that comes to power through elections to be held in accordance with resolution 2254 (2015) and which truly represents their will and enjoys their full consent. Until then, Turkey will continue to stand by the democratic aspirations of the Syrian people and safeguard the protection of civilians in Idlib and beyond. Every passing day, we put vulnerable Syrian people at the mercy of this murderous regime. Now is the time to act. The international community has the responsibility to protect.”
2020-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8727 (2020) · source
“It took us over two years to establish the Committee because the regime was not interested in a political solution. Now the regime is reverting to its usual tactics for stalling the Committee’s work. The tyrant in Damascus is aspiring to achieve a Syria without people, a Syria without Syrians. He wants to hold on to power with total disregard for human life. We will not let that happen. Today Turkey provides care and protection to more than 9 million Syrians, both in Turkey and Syria. Let me underline — that is more than the population of the so-called regime-controlled areas. And here we are, in this Chamber again, listening to the previous speaker’s delusional accusations. I will again repeat that I will not honour him with a response, since I do not consider him as my legitimate counterpart.”
2020-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8727 (2020) · source
“We emphasized our preparedness to enforce that withdrawal through military means if necessary. We stressed the need to de-escalate violence, prevent violations and avoid further worsening of the grave humanitarian situation. We will continue our contacts with Russia, as guarantor of the regime, to make sure that regime acts in compliance with existing frameworks on Idlib. Today’s meeting is meant to be about the political situation in Syria. The fate of Idlib will also determine the prospects for a real political solution. It has been over four years since the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2254 (2015), which sets out a clear road map for a political solution to the Syrian conflict. The establishment of the Constitutional Committee has been the most concrete step taken so far towards implementation of that road map.”
2020-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8727 (2020) · source
“I would like to underline once again that Turkish forces are in Idlib to stabilize the situation and preserve the de-escalation zone status of the province. Our military presence and reinforcements are fully in line with the Sochi memorandum of September 2018. The only way out of the biggest humanitarian horror story of the twenty-first century is a lasting ceasefire. We need, first, an immediate cessation of hostilities; secondly, the full implementation of Sochi memorandum on Idlib; and, thirdly, a return to the status quo ante. That is the main message we have been conveying to Russia at all levels, including, most recently, in a series of inter-agency meetings in Ankara and Moscow. In our talks, Turkey reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the regime’s withdrawal to the Sochi memorandum line.”
2020-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8727 (2020) · source
“They expect the Security Council to raise its voice. The message that must come out of this meeting is clear: the Syrian regime must stop killing its own people. This is a test for the Security Council. This is a test of our humanity. We cannot fail. The regime also resumed its deliberate attacks on Turkish forces. Five additional Turkish soldiers were deliberately targeted last week and lost their lives. The Turkish armed forces immediately retaliated in self- defence. We will continue to respond by all necessary means. As President Erdoğan announced, Turkey will hit all targets that pose an immediate threat. We will not withdraw our forces, and we will not abandon our observation posts. It is the regime that should withdraw from its current positions by the end of this month.”
2020-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8727 (2020) · source
“People in Idlib are caught between violence, winter conditions and food scarcity. The lack of adequate shelter has resulted in hundreds of thousands of people living in the open air in freezing temperatures and sleeping on the streets with no cover. Existing camps and settlements are insufficient. Shelter is critically needed, along with new camps to address new waves of displacement. We are working with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to increase the capacity of the cross-border mechanism. We are also working with Germany to alleviate the need for shelter in Idlib and to support the most vulnerable. This is a major humanitarian tragedy, with serious repercussions beyond Syria. The people of Syria feel abandoned by the world. They expect the international community to help them.”
2020-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8727 (2020) · source
“The Syrian regime continues to violate international humanitarian law and to indiscriminately target civilians and civilian infrastructure, emptying out entire cities and villages. Almost 1 million people have been displaced over the past two months. Women and children represent 80 per cent of the newly displaced people. This is the biggest mass displacement since the war in Syria began nine years ago. Yesterday UNICEF reported that the last two hospitals operating in the western part of Aleppo were hit. One of them was a maternity hospital and the other a children’s hospital. Four more hospitals were attacked in the past 24 hours. This is unacceptable. The mass- murderer in Damascus has killed more than 2,000 civilians in Idlib since December 2019. Those actions constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
2020-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8727 (2020) · source
“Mr. Sinirlioğlu (Turkey): At the outset, let me extend our condolences to the families of the OXFAM humanitarian workers who lost their lives today. I would also like to thank Special Envoy Pedersen and Under-Secretary-General Lowcock for their briefings. Two weeks ago the Security Council discussed the growing risk of further escalation and the gravity of the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Syria (see S/PV.8715). Since then, the crisis has only gotten worse. As the Secretary-General emphasized yesterday, the rapid deterioration of the humanitarian situation and the tragic suffering of civilians have reached alarming levels. Under the pretext of combating terrorism, a relentless campaign of air strikes and ground attacks continues.”
2020-02-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8727 (2020) · source
“I will not honour the representative of the Syrian regime with a response as I do not consider him to be a legitimate representative of Syria. A regime that has massacred and tortured the Syrian people for over eight years lost its legitimacy long ago and its representative should not have the right to sit behind the nameplate of the Syrian Arab Republic in this Chamber. His mere presence is an assault on the millions of Syrians who have suffered countless crimes at the hands of that tyrannical regime,”
2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source
“We cannot leave the fate of Syrians to the mercy of a regime that has been systematically killing, torturing and starving its own people. There is a clear path forward — a genuine political solution that will ensure the implementation of all aspects of resolution 2254 (2015). Let me recall the formula in the resolution: a negotiated political settlement, elections under United Nations supervision, with the participation of all Syrians inside and outside the country, and a new Constitution. For that to happen, the first step is immediate de-escalation in Idlib. Any step in the opposite direction will inevitably derail the political process. Let us all work altogether to end this tragedy once and for all. Let me also reply to previous speakers.”
2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source
“A dead Syrian child is referred to in the news only as a casualty, but back in Idlib, she or he has a name, and the body is buried with the dreams of a peaceful Syria. It is even more tragic when the body of a child cannot even be found under the debris of a bombed school. It is time for the international community, and particularly the members of the Security Council, to heed the voices of those Syrian children. Raising concerns and convening meetings is not enough. Unfortunately, this humanitarian disaster is not given due attention by Governments and media around the world. The United Nations and the international community need to pay attention to the desperate calls of the Syrian people and humanitarian organizations. We need immediate, concrete action.”
2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source
“Even before the recent escalation, the residents of Idlib were the most vulnerable people in Syria. They had already been displaced countless times, seeking refuge from the regime’s barrel bombs, airstrikes and heavy shelling for many years now. In the past two months, the regime’s brutal violence has resulted in the displacement of almost 600,000 people, 85 per cent of whom are women and children. As bombs fall, civilians continue to move towards our border. The escalation has triggered a mass influx, leading to a chain reaction that affects not only Turkey but also beyond. Is the world ready to face a repetition of the 2015 refugee crisis, when over a million people from Syria arrived in Europe? The children of Idlib continue to bear the brunt of this massacre. More children were killed in July 2019 alone than in all of 2018.”
2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source
“He said, “I have seen the world’s worst humanitarian crises, but the suffering I have seen in Syria is unprecedented. Idlib has been transformed into a huge concentration camp.” What the regime has been pursuing in Idlib over recent months is the last phase of its campaign to exterminate its own people. Hospitals and schools have been indiscriminately bombed and civilians, including babies, have been killed. Freezing temperatures and fuel shortages exacerbate the needs of vulnerable children and families. The capacity of the health system has been severely damaged at a time when health- care needs are increasing owing to displacement and bombardment. Donors, however, have responded in an inadequate manner. We need an urgent response. If this does not qualify as an emergency situation worthy of additional funding, then what does?”
2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source
“Implying that millions of civilians in Idlib are Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham terrorists is a joke. We all know that the Syrian regime’s real intention is not to end terrorism. It is to punish its own people and silence the Syrian opposition, not only in Idlib but also in other parts that are controlled by the regime. Some 1,600 people have been killed since April 2019. Our contacts with the Russian authorities continue at every level, including at the military level, with our de-conflicting contacts. Our expectation of that communication is the renewal of our commitment to the Sochi understanding on Idlib and a return to the status quo in Idlib. Let me underline that Turkey will not withdraw its forces and will not abandon any observation post. I recently met with a Syrian doctor. His depiction of the situation still resonates with me.”
2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source
“A new ceasefire was introduced very recently, on 12 January, following President Putin’s visit to Turkey. Since that date, the regime has violated the ceasefire more than 6,500 times, in total disregard of all agreements on Idlib. As I have informed the Council on previous occasions, Turkey has taken a large number of measures to ensure the full implementation of the Sochi memorandum, in line with the responsibilities outlined therein. In the meantime the regime and its supporters continue to use the pretext of combatting terrorism to attack Idlib. We all know that the deliberate targeting of civilians only fuels further radicalization. With over 3 million civilians squeezed into close quarters, the fight against terrorism cannot be carried out as it is in clear violation of international humanitarian law.”
2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source
“We expect the regime and its supporters to take the necessary steps in that direction, and we expect all our friends and all responsible members of the international community to respect our legitimate security concerns. With the Sochi memorandum, we agreed with Russia to stabilize the situation in Idlib and preserve the status of Idlib as a de-escalation area. We also agreed that Turkish observation posts would be fortified and continue to function. As the guarantor of the regime, Russia committed to taking all necessary measures to ensure that military operations and attacks on Idlib will be avoided and that the existing status quo will be maintained. However, since May 2019, as a result of at least 2,000 ceasefire violations by regime forces, more than 1,500 civilians have been killed and approximately 800,000 displaced.”
2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source
“Terrorist groups established their own states in Syrian territory because the tyrant in Damascus would not allow the Syrian people to enjoy their basic rights. And now, he wants to pull my country into his dirty war by deliberately targeting Turkish forces. I cannot overemphasize the point that Turkey believes in a political solution in Syria and is working with the United Nations for a settlement in line with resolution 2254 (2015). However, Turkey will never tolerate belligerent acts. Any military aggression targeting Turkey’s security interests and Turkish soldiers will be severely punished. We will never hesitate to use our right to self- defence. I am not drawing a red line here. This is a warning. As announced by President Erdoğan, the regime should withdraw from its current positions until the end of the month.”
2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source
“As a result, we were forced to deploy additional troops to protect our military observation posts and to prevent the escalation of hostilities in Idlib, in line with the responsibilities bestowed on Turkey as a guarantor. As of today, some of our observation posts remain encircled by the fighters of the regime. Even today, there have been bombardments by the regime’s air force. Since 2011, hundreds of thousands of Syrians have been killed by the regime. Countless more have been injured, tortured, detained or disappeared. Millions have been besieged and denied humanitarian and medical aid. My country hosts nearly 4 million Syrians. That is almost one-fifth of the entire population of Syria before the start of the conflict. All of this is because the tyrant in Damascus has refused to meet the legitimate demands of Syrian people.”
2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source
“On 3 February, the regime, run by a clique in Damascus controlling some parts of Syrian territory, deliberately targeted Turkish forces, resulting in the deaths of seven Turkish soldiers and one civilian personnel. Acting in self-defence, the Turkish armed forces immediately retaliated. Those Turkish servicemen are in Idlib as part of the memorandum signed by Turkey and Russia in September 2018 to stabilize the situation in Idlib and preserve the status of Idlib as a de-escalation area. All deployments of the Turkish armed forces, including the most recent, have been coordinated with Russian authorities. But despite our notifications, the regime opened fire on Turkish positions on 3 February.”
2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source
“Mr. Sinirlioğlu (Turkey): I thank you, Mr. President, for convening today’s important meeting. I would also like to thank Special Envoy Geir Pedersen and Under- Secretary-General Mark Lowcock for their briefings on the current alarming situation in Idlib. Syria has been the subject of discussion in the Council for almost a decade now. The Council has discussed the use of chemical weapons and the crimes committed by a tyrannical regime against its own people. It has been discussed as a civil war and a humanitarian crisis caused by the terrorist regime of a failed State. It has been discussed as a serious threat to international peace and security. But nothing has changed. To the contrary, the danger of further escalation is growing.”
2020-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8715 (2020) · source
“The members of the international community should work together in order to help advance the political process, in accordance with resolution 2254 (2015). We should all support the efforts of Special Envoy Geir Pedersen to that end. As the conflict in Syria enters its tenth year, there is an alarming need for a genuine political process that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people.”
2020-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8706Resumption1 (2020) · source
“Given the winter conditions, civilians have become even more vulnerable in Idlib. Their lives are threatened both by military attacks and by harsh weather conditions. The current crisis is compounding an already dire humanitarian situation in north- western Syria. Indiscriminate attacks on civilians under the pretext of fighting terrorism cannot be accepted. Respect for international humanitarian law is indispensable. Sustained, unimpeded and safe humanitarian access, including through the United Nations cross-border humanitarian mechanism, is vital. Turkey will maintain efforts to preserve the status quo in the Idlib de-escalation area. Following the first two rounds, it is regrettable that the Constitutional Committee has stalled. It should be ensured that the Committee can function without any hindrance.”
2020-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8706Resumption1 (2020) · source
“A two-State solution, with the establishment of an independent State of Palestine within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, remains the only way to a just, comprehensive and lasting peace. Any peace plan or initiative should be based along those established parameters. I would also like to briefly touch upon the developments in Syria. In Idlib, the systematic targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure by the regime continues to cause massive waves of displacement. Millions of people are faced with ongoing cycles of violence. Since December 2019 alone, almost 350,000 people have been displaced in Idlib, 80 per cent of whom are women and children. Many left their homes in a rush to stay alive and were unable to bring any belongings vital to their survival.”
2020-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8706Resumption1 (2020) · source
“The tragedy is compounded by the worst financial crisis in the history of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). At a time when the region is witnessing conflict and significant volatility, the impact of a potential disruption in UNRWA services would be gruesome. By extending the mandate of UNRWA, the General Assembly showed its overwhelming support for the Agency. We should also maintain efforts to put the financial situation of the Agency on a more predictable and sustainable footing. The operationalization of the Waqf Fund of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation has been a significant step forward in that regard. The latest developments again remind us of the urgency of revitalizing the peace process.”
2020-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8706Resumption1 (2020) · source
“Israel should immediately cease all settlement activities, as well as house demolitions, land confiscation and other policies denying the Palestinians’ right to development. Attempts to deny the historical and legal rights of the Palestinian people violate international law. Those rights, including the right to return, cannot be withheld. The continuation of such practices will only deepen the sense of injustice and breed desperation. That is in no one’s interest. The situation on the Gaza Strip is also deeply worrying. Gazans, who are under blockade, continue to live in tremendous despair and insecurity. Humanitarian organizations on the ground face immense challenges in the treatment of people suffering severe bone infections. The international community should be able to assist the wounded in the long and uncertain period of recovery.”
2020-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8706Resumption1 (2020) · source
“Mr. Sinirlioğlu (Turkey): The situation across the Middle East continues to be a source of grave concern. Terrorism, violence and humanitarian crises have escalated and engulfed millions of innocent people in the region. In the face of those developments, we must maintain our focus on the urgent need to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Despite the continuous calls of the international community, Israeli violations of international law in the occupied Palestinian territory, including in East Jerusalem, have been increasing at an alarming rate. Settlement activities are particularly worrisome. Resolution 2334 (2016) is clear on the destructive effects of illegal settlement activities. Its provisions must be implemented.”
2020-01-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8706Resumption1 (2020) · source
“It is high time for the Council to do what is right and to renew the cross-border mechanism for 12 months, with the addition of Tall Abyad to the crossing points mandated for use by the United Nations. The meeting rose at 12.40p.m.”
2019-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8694 (2019) · source
“Operation Peace Spring was a limited cross-border counter-terrorism operation to fight terror organizations, such as the Kurdish Workers Party, the Democratic Union Party and the People's Protection Units and Da'esh. As President Erdogan has emphasized on multiple occasions, Turkey cannot and will not tolerate any terrorist activity along its borders. During the negotiations, no objection was raised as to the benefits of the addition of the Tall Abyad crossing point. All the counter-arguments were political in nature. Discussions on the draft resolution and the addition of the Tall Abyad crossing point must focus only on humanitarian issues and needs. The politicization of this issue will not serve the needs of the Syrian people.”
2019-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8694 (2019) · source
“In the short term, the Tall Abyad crossing point will serve the needs of the current population and will be instrumental to reach people in need in Raqqa and Al-Hasakah, which have a total population of approximately 450,000. In the medium and long terms, humanitarian aid delivered through the Tall Abyad crossing point can also be expanded to other regions in the north-eastern part of Syria. Throughout the negotiations, a great majority of Member States supported the inclusion of the Tall Abyad crossing point in the mechanism. It has been claimed that the addition of the Tall Abyad crossing point is an attempt to legitimize the situation in the north-east. Turkey does not need the blessing of any other country to defend itself against terrorist threats.”
2019-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8694 (2019) · source
“The first revised draft resolution included the addition of Tall Abyad to the crossings mandated for use by the United Nations. The importance of the Tall Abyad crossing point for United Nations operations has already been explained by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and Under-Secretary-General Lowcock, as well as by Assistant Secretary-General Mueller this morning. It is an old and functional crossing point that was promoted to category A in 2008. The Bab Al-Hawa and the Bab Al-Salam border crossings, which are also among the cross-border mechanism crossing points, are also designated under the same category. The Tall Abyad area is convenient to establish a United Nations logistics cluster for the collection and distribution of aid items.”
2019-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8694 (2019) · source