Statement by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia at UNSC Briefing on Syria
Mr. President,
We woul like to thank Ms.Najat Rochdi, Deputy Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Syria, and Ms. Lisa Doughten, OCHA Director. We are grateful for their briefings on the political and humanitarian situation in Syria.
We are closely following developments in the Syrian Arab Republic (SAR), a friendly country that has entered a new period of its history and is undergoing a politically tense and momentous transition. The leadership of this “new Syria” faces major tasks in modernizing the system of state governance and strengthening state security institutions. The successful implementation of these steps requires an inclusive political process and coordinated international support based on respect for the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of SAR. This is the foundation on which all decisions on the Syrian settlement must be built, in line with the basic principles laid down in the “cornerstone” Security Council Resolution 2254.
We would like to say that Russia has always been guided by the interests of the Syrian people and will continue to do so. That is why, we supported the UN Security Council's decision to lift sanctions against the Syrian leadership. We do believe that this will not only contribute to the country's socio-economic recovery, but will also give momentum to international support for this process, which would be without imposing any self-serving conditions or ready-made schemes on Damascus. All issues on the domestic agenda must be resolved by the Syrians themselves, and we have been consistently opposing any external interference.
Mr. President,
We share the concerns of Damascus and our Council colleagues regarding the ongoing terrorist threats posed by ISIL, Al-Qaeda, affiliated terrorist groups, and foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs). In this regard, we support the efforts of the Syrian authorities to neutralize these individuals and legal entities, whose activities not only undermine Syrian statehood but also threaten the security of neighboring countries. Furthermore, we cannot ignore the unlawful actions by West Jerusalem, which continues to occupy the Syrian Golan Heights and, under the made-up pretext of self-defense, has in fact launched a full-scale operation to create a “buffer zone” in the south of the Syrian Arab Republic. Such actions grossly violate international law and pose a threat to the security of the entire Middle East region. We call on Israel to comply with the provisions of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.
Mr. President,
We are disappointed by the fact that there are practically no positive developments on the humanitarian track. The socio-economic situation in the country remains dire, and millions of Syrians continue to be in urgent need of life-saving assistance.
We are particularly concerned by the fact that last week, the FAO and the WFP yet again included Syria in the list of countries with the most unfavorable predictions with regard to hunger and malnutrition. Today, about 9 million Syrians are already facing various forms of malnutrition, and experts have every reason to believe that without timely response measures this figure would rise in the very near future.
The situation is being exacerbated by severe drought, water shortages, declining crop yields, and an overall economic downturn undermining the purchasing power of the people.
Economic recovery and the creation of shock-resistant food systems are complex, long-term tasks that require significant investment. It is clear that Syria can only achieve this not until the international community stand in genuine solidarity. It is a complete rejection of the policy of imposing illegal sanctions and a return to a fair system of international development based on international law, relations of equality, and mutual respect that can make a decisive contribution and put the Syrian economy on the path to sustainable development.
However, UN experts and humanitarian organizations working directly in Syria have increasingly pointed out that, in practice, sanctions barriers are still in place, which seriously hampers the implementation of humanitarian tasks. Despite public statements by Western countries about easing or even lifting unilateral measures, businesses are still afraid to engage with partners in Syria and hesitate to invest even in those areas where economically it would make sense.
We are particularly concerned by reports coming from the organizations involved in demining Syria. They note that they cannot purchase even basic equipment. Meanwhile, according to all available assessments, the problem of mine contamination remains extremely pressing.
Mr. President,
Yesterday and the day before yesterday, we had a detailed discussion in this chamber on such issues as food security and hunger – these phenomena won’t go away anytime soon. Many spoke about early warning systems and the need for timely responses to the threat of famine. In the case of Syria, that very warning has already reached us; the system has sent a clear signal stating that without urgent funding and the removal of obstacles to humanitarian activities, we risk facing a significant deterioration of the situation and greater suffering.
We call on all partners to act in a spirit of solidarity, respect for Syria's sovereignty, and for the sake of this country’s well-being.
Thank you.
