Statement delivered by H.E. Abukar Osman, Permanent Representative of Somalia to the United Nations, on behalf of the A3+, at the Security Council Briefing on 'The situation in the Middle East (Syria)'
Thank you, Mr. President,
I welcome the participation of the Foreign Minister in presiding over this important meeting. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the members of the A3+, namely Algeria, Guyana, Sierra Leone, and my own country Somalia.
At the outset, the A3+ extends its sincere appreciation to Special Envoy Geir Pedersen and Mr. Ramesh Rajasingham, for their briefings. We also welcome the participation of the Permanent Representatives of the Syria, Iran, Qatar, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia in today’s meeting.
Mr. President,
At this pivotal juncture in the Syrian crisis, the A3+ reaffirms its steadfast commitment to a comprehensive and lasting political solution anchored in the principles of the United Nations Charter, international law, and respect for Syria’s sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity, and which reflects the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people.
We remain guided by the conviction that peace in Syria cannot be imposed from the outside, but must emerge from within, through a process that is truly Syrian-led and Syrian-owned.
In this regard, the A3+ reaffirms its unwavering support for an inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process, in line with the key principles enshrined in Security Council resolution 2254. This process must safeguard the rights and participation of all Syrians, regardless of ethnicity or religion, and ensure their protection.
The A3+ remains convinced that only a genuinely inclusive and Syrian-led transition, with robust backing from the international community, can lead to lasting peace and stability.
We therefore renew our full support for the tireless efforts of the Special Envoy in advancing this process.
The credibility of this process hinges not only on inclusive dialogue, but also on the restoration of trust between the Syrian people and the institutions that serve them.
Mr. President,
We are deeply alarmed by the continuing reports of violence across various parts of Syria. The A3+ condemns, in the strongest terms, all acts of violence against civilians and any actions that risk inflaming sectarian tensions.
We call for immediate measures to protect civilians, restore calm, and prevent further incitement to communal violence. All parties must respect international humanitarian law and human rights law, and we underscore the imperative of accountability for violations committed against civilians.
We note and support the ongoing efforts toward de-escalation, and welcome the interim authorities' engagement in dialogue and cooperation within the framework of national unity.
We also commend the decision by the Syrian authorities to establish a committee on missing persons, and encourage constructive cooperation with the independent institution for missing persons. Addressing the plight of the missing is fundamental to reconciliation and accountability.
Mr. President,
We strongly condemn Israel’s repeated violations of Syria’s sovereignty, including the recent airstrike near the presidential palace in Damascus. Such attacks not only undermine regional peace and security, but also exacerbate sectarian tensions and create an environment conducive to the resurgence of terrorist groups.
We call for an immediate end to all Israeli incursions into Syrian territory and reiterate our call for the complete withdrawal of all Israeli forces. We call for full compliance with the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. Moreover, we underscore that Golan Heights remains Syrian territory under international law, as reaffirmed by Security Council Resolution 497 (1981).
Mr. President,
The humanitarian situation in Syria remains dire. The needs continue to grow, including with the return of over 800,000 Syrian refugees and over 1.1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) returning to their homes. By all accounts the resources mobilized for the humanitarian response in Syria remains vastly insufficient.
We note with concern that the recent Brussels Conference yielded only $200 million in pledges, an amount that falls far short of the scale of the crisis. We urge all donors to honor their pledges and to urgently scale up humanitarian assistance, while ensuring its delivery, in accordance with humanitarian law and the humanitarian principles.
The longstanding imposition of unilateral coercive measures has significantly undermined the ability of ordinary Syrians to meet their basic needs. In this regard, the A3+ welcomes the recent decisions by the United States and the European Union to lift sanctions on Syria—a step that aligns with our continued calls for meaningful and comprehensive sanctions relief.
While we welcome this development, we believe it should be part of a broader re-engagement strategy that ensures assistance reaches those most in need and supports local recovery initiatives.
Sanctions relief is critical to unlocking regional support, revitalizing the Syrian economy, and enabling Syrians, both within the country and across the diaspora, to contribute actively to rebuilding their homeland. It is also a necessary step to facilitate Syria’s reintegration into the global financial system.
This is of particular importance as the World Bank has estimated the cost of Syria’s reconstruction at over $250 billion. Mobilizing such resources will require coordinated international action, political will, and above all, the lifting of barriers that continue to hinder recovery.
Mr. President,
Syria faces immense challenges, but it also holds great promise. If approached with openness, inclusion, and international support, Syria’s political transition and reconstruction could be a beacon of recovery and stability in the region.
Let me close by reaffirming that the A3+ remains fully committed to doing everything within our power to help build a stable, sovereign, inclusive, and prosperous Syria, free of conflict, division and foreign interference. A Syria that once again contributes to the peace, prosperity, and stability of the whole region.
Thank you.
