Guterres: The flame of hope in Syria must not be extinguished

Speaking to reporters at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Mr. Guterres said that many fires are consuming the Middle East, “But today there is a flame of hope in Syria.”

He added: “This flame must not be extinguished. The people of Syria stand at a historic moment – ​​and a moment of opportunity. This opportunity cannot be missed. The end of more than five decades of brutal dictatorial rule has given rise to so much hope. We share that hope with the Syrian people and stand with them.” “.

However, the Secretary-General warned that if the ongoing situation is not carefully managed, there is a real risk that progress will unravel. He called for a comprehensive, reliable and peaceful political transition to “New Syria” Where all communities are included, and the rights of women and girls are respected, guided by principles Security Council Resolution No. 2254. In parallel, he noted that the country was still facing one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world, and called for adequate funding for relief and recovery responses.

Upcoming challenges

Mr. Guterres announced the appointment of Carla Quintana as President of the Independent Foundation for Missing Persons in Syria, which was established by the General Assembly in June last year. He said that she and her team must be allowed to fully implement their mandate, adding that all international mechanisms to strengthen human rights protection and accountability for crimes committed in Syria must have what they need to do their vital work.

The Secretary-General warned of the continued killing, injury and displacement of civilians in Syria, while ISIS still poses a major threat in several areas of the country. And he said: “Let us not underestimate the scale of the challenges that lie ahead. While the situation has stabilized in parts of Syria, the conflict is far from over.”

Israeli attacks

Mr. Guterres said that the intensified Israeli air strikes on Syria constitute a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity and must stop. He added that the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) continues to record an Israeli military presence in the separation zone and in one location in the border area of ​​the occupied Syrian Golan.

And he said: “Let me be clear: there should be no military forces in the zone of separation except UN peacekeeping forces. Israel and Syria must abide by the terms of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, which remains in full force. Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and integrity must be fully restored “All aggressive actions must be put to an immediate end.”

The Secretary-General said that amid the hope that has swept Syria, “Some will try to exploit the situation to achieve their own narrow ends.” But he stressed that the international community is obligated to stand with the people of Syria, who have suffered greatly, and said: “Syria’s future must be shaped by its people, for its people, with the support of all of us.”