Statement by First Deputy Permanent Representative Dmitry Polyanskiy at UNSC briefing on the political and humanitarian situation in Syria
Mr. President,
We thank Special Envoy Geir Pedersen and OCHA Operations Director Edem Wosornu for their briefings.
We remain convinced that there is no alternative to the Syrian-owned and Syrian-led political settlement process in SAR with the assistance of the UN in strict compliance with Security Council resolution 2254 and without any external interference. This will guide us in future, as we will consistently continue our engagement with both Syrians and Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, and all other parties concerned, primarily with our partners in the Astana Format.
To this end, Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Iran and Türkiye held another meeting on September 22 on the sidelines of the 78th General Assembly High-Level Week where they once again emphasized the leading role of the Astana Troika and its intention to continue its consolidated efforts to facilitate a comprehensive settlement in Syria based on strict adherence to the principles of respect for its sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. Apart from that, ministers stressed the need to mobilize external assistance for the SAR, including in the interest of its post-conflict recovery and more active return of Syrian refugees to their homeland.
Following the trilateral meeting, participants of the Astana Format held consultations with SRSG Pedersen that focused, among other things, on the task of ensuring efficient operation of the inter-Syrian Constitutional Committee. In this context we would like to once again welcome the outcomes of the meeting of the Ministerial Contact Group on Syria held in Cairo on August 15 that agreed to resume the sessions of the Constitutional Committee and to hold another meeting of its Editorial Board by the end of the year in a venue that is to be determined.
We expect that, taking into account the positions of Syrians themselves – both the SAR Government and the opposition, – you, Mr. Pedersen, will focus precisely on convening a new round of the Constitutional Committee, without distracting your attention to other initiatives. We continue to believe that principled decisions regarding modalities of the further work of the Committee and the venue of the next rounds of consultations should be taken by Syrians themselves.
Mr. President,
The situation on the ground in some regions of Syria that are not controlled by Damascus remains tough. This is primarily the result of the continued illegal military presence of the US in cross-Euphrates area, as well as around Al-Tanf. A source of growing concern are clashes between Kurds and Arab tribes in the Deir ez-Zor Governorate, as well as the escalation of tensions in the south, including in the Al-Suwayda Governorate. These alarming trends are an immediate result of external interference of Washington and its allies aiming to further destabilize the situation in Syria and create a buffer strip at Syrian borders. Western countries illegally staying in Syria under the mantle of their pretended fight against ISIL, as well as Kurdish formations under their control, in reality, have long ago ceased to fight against terrorists. Instead, they actively use the fighters for their purposes against the Syrian army and its allies and try to whitewash the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham terrorist alliance that has seized Idlib.
In addition to provocative activities of Western states, Israeli authorities, too, are making a destructive contribution. They increased the number of arbitrary air strikes against Syrian territory – in August alone, there were three attacks on the suburbs of Damascus and Aleppo, including from the air space over the Golan Heights, which once again rendered the Aleppo airport inoperable.
From our part, we are consistent in our belief that lasting peace and security in SAR can only be achieved though full restoration of sovereignty and territorial integrity of this state, including control of Syrian authorities over their national borders, as well as natural resources, while continuing the fight against terrorists.
Mr. President,
In the context of the humanitarian situation in Syria, we would like to, first and foremost, welcome the agreements reached between Damascus and OCHA regarding the use of three checkpoints at the border to Türkiye for humanitarian deliveries. Bab al-Salam and Al-Rai crossings remain open for the UN until November 13, 2023 and Bab al-Hawa crossing for six months, i.e., until January 13, 2024. Thus, the UN now has more possibilities for humanitarian deliveries to North-Western regions of Syria than it used to have under the UNSC cross-border resolutions.
On the whole, the cross-border deliveries architecture in Syria has taken a form that is common for international practices – from now on, it will be coordinated with the national government in Damascus and no longer be subject to micromanagement by the UNSC.
Colleagues,
It is gratifying that international humanitarian assistance for Syria now happens along the lines of the Guiding Principles enshrined in UNGA Resolution 46/182. We believe that outstanding issues, just as it happens in the context of cross-border deliveries from Chad to Sudan or from Uzbekistan to Afghanistan, will be resolved in a direct dialogue between the UN and Damascus without any external interference, including on the part of the UNSC.
Having said this, we are seriously concerned by the fact that although the possibilities for humanitarian workers had emerged a long time ago, in reality humanitarian deliveries to Idlib through Bab al-Hawa crossing were resumed only six weeks after the agreement was reached with Damascus. Therefore, the population of the enclave that is in dire need of humanitarian assistance – the fact that is being constantly invoked, including at the UN platform – once again became hostage of internationally listed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham terrorists who eagerly engaged in diplomatic games with Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria David Carden from the UK. All of this shows the work of the UN Office in Gaziantep in a very unflattering light.
Next on the list is resumption of humanitarian deliveries to North-Western Syria from Damascus through Sarmada and Saraqib crossings on the contact line. The ongoing blockade of such humanitarian convoys by terrorists has no reasons. What we see is blatant sabotage on the part of Idlib thugs – something the UN Secretariat and our Western colleagues shamefully keep silent about.
Unfortunately, it is not the only problem that is being ignored. In the context of the stifling unilateral sanctions imposed by Western states against Damascus, the Secretariat chose, as we see it, to equally sweep under the carpet the report of the UN Country Team in Syria about the negative impact of those illegitimate measures on the humanitarian situation in this long-suffering country. In the same vein, the UN seems not to notice Washington’s occupation of cross-Euphrates area and its looting of Syria’s national resources. In oil sector alone, the losses endured by Damascus as a result of US criminal activities are estimated at 115.2 billion US dollars. The US ships roughly 150,000 barrels of crude oil out of Syria every day. And this happens in a situation when due to the lack of fuel in Syria humanitarian workers are forced to curtail their operation, including under the World Food Program. That is how the widely celebrated principles of American humanism are being implemented in practice on Syrian soil. And Secretary-General and the UN Secretariat shamefully keep silent about this.
Mr. President,
We believe the critical situation caused by this year’s over 30% deficit in financing of the UN Humanitarian Response Plan for Syria is telling. It is obvious that Syria, along with a number of other countries in need, is subjected to severe discrimination on the part of Western donors whose only concern is about sponsoring weapon supplies to Ukraine. It is crucial to keep these realities in mind when today we will listen to hypocritical statements of some of our Western colleagues about how they care for common Syrians whom, in reality, they not only fail to assist but rather try to stifle with their illegitimate unilateral sanctions.
Thank you.
