New York, 25 October 2022
Merci Monsieur le Président,
I thank the Special Envoy Pedersen and Ms. Ghelani for their updates.
Little has changed in Syria since our last meeting on the issue, if not renewed and more fighting.
A man-made catastrophe has entered its second decade, in a continuation of destruction, destitution, and dehumanization — the abhorrent works of a regime that clings to power by suffocating the aspirations of the Syrian people for a dignified life in their own country.
The inability of this Council to act has prolonged this brutality, and the suffering of Syrians. But this does not need to be the fate of the Syrian people, nor of this Council.
Mr. President,
In exactly 6 days, we celebrate the 22nd anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 the landmark resolution on WPS.
But there is not much to celebrate in Syria, a reality of continuous and growing oppression of women, which has brought on them extreme poverty, malnutrition, arbitrary detention, forced disappearances, sexual violence, and human trafficking.
Despite this, in adversity and perilous circumstances, Syrian women have deprived the Assad regime from relegating them to the role of a victim only.
They have paid a heavy t0ll, but they have resisted, and are still coping with enormous challenge to manage their households and preserve their role in public and political life.
We applaud the efforts made by the Special Envoy (Pedersen) to never lose sight of the plight and role of women in the Syrian conflict, as he did today, and ensure their legitimate place in the political process, to co-shape the future of Syria.
Mr. President,
On the security front, violence continues unabated. There is infighting in the North, and now the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, a Security Council—listed terrorist group is expanding its activities and has been able to reach Afrin.
This is a clear sign that terrorism remains a growing plague, with the potential of spreading further its violent activities and ideology.
Mr. President,
The further deterioration of the security situation is only serving to exacerbate the dire humanitarian and economic situation in the country.
Cholera has returned to Syria, killing at least 70 people so far. This shows again how urgent it is to restore health services and water and sanitation facilities in the country.
Therefore, the cross-border mechanism remains by far a crucial lifeline for millions. Its renewal is vital, it is about saving human lives.
We see no progress whatsoever on the fate of the detainees and the forcefully disappeared. When the so-called “Presidential Amnesty” was announced last April, we expressed doubts. Now it is clear that it is nothing more than a smokescreen for the Assad regime to distract the international community with an empty gesture. After six months, there is no information about releases of detainees and their whereabout.
The issue of the detainees is a purely humanitarian issue and not a merchandise for political haggling, and the Council should make it a priority.
That is why Albania strongly supports the recommendations of the landmark report issues by the SG in August, especially the need to create a new mechanism for the disappeared in Syria, and a trust fund to help those aggrieved.
Mr. President,
I conclude with where everything should begin: the political process. Or as I have expressed repeatedly here, the absence of a genuine political process.
The Assad regime and its enablers take turns in trading excuses to not participate in the political process, and to effectively freeze even the minimal movements that could be noticed in the Constitutional Committee.
There seem to be no end to the list of excuses to not move forward the political process.
We should not be fooled by smokescreens, excuses, and actions in bad faith.
We should demand transparent, tangible, precise, and variable measures to unlock the political process, and to ensure political transition in Syria.
There can be no chance for peace, prosperity and justice in Syria without due political transition that should lead to a new democratic Syria, through a process that is owned and led by the Syrians themselves.
Syria belongs to its people through free will, not to one family trough a repressive grip.
I thank you!
