A3+ Statement delivered by Representative of Algeria at Security Council meeting on the Situation in Syria

Mr. President,

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3+, namely Guyana, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and my own country, Algeria.

We would like to thank Mr. Pedersen and Mr. Griffiths for their valuable briefings.  We recognize their tireless efforts, despite the myriad of challenges, to bring the Syrian crisis to an end and alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people.

Mr. President,

Since our last meeting, all indicators, including security, political, humanitarian, economic components continue to trend downwards for Syria.

Despite misgivings that the parties have not been able to agree to a political settlement, there is still space to restart the process. In light of this, the A3+ would like to offer the following recommendations:

First, the parties to the conflict must commit to reconvening this Constitutional Committee.  The agreement to hold the ninth session of the Committee must be fulfilled. Progress on the political track is indispensable for the plethora of pending issues.

The A3+ calls upon all parties to constructively engage in finding a political solution to guarantee Syria’s unity, Syria’s territorial integrity, and Syria’s sovereignty.

Second, we urge all refugee hosting countries to respect international law, in particular international refugee law. Conditions must be created to facilitate the voluntary, dignified, and safe return of Syrian refugees and IDPs to their homes.

Third, we reiterate our call for a Syrian-owned Syrian-led political process under the auspices of the United Nations in accordance with resolution 2254. We therefore express our strong support for the efforts of the Special Envoy and urge the parties to the conflict to engage in the Special Envoy’s confidence-building initiative.

Fourth, we firmly condemn the violations of Syria’s sovereignty and call upon all actors to refrain from actions that trigger further escalation in the region.

The A3+ is seriously concerned about escalation and miscalculation from the Gaza conflict and the impacts it could have on the stability and peace of Syria and the region as a whole.

Mr. President,

After more than 13 years of crisis, the humanitarian needs of Syria and the Syrian people are constantly growing due to the conflict, economic recession, and unilateral sanctions imposed on Syria.

The A3+ regrets that the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) is currently only 31% funded. This lack of adequate funding has disrupted humanitarian activities with 12.9 million Syrians in need of life-saving support. 

We welcome the convening of the Eighth Brussels Conference on “Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region,” held in Brussels on 27 May 2024, and urge all donors to fulfill their commitments.

The A3+ emphasizes the importance of the early recovery project vision of OCHA and calls upon all parties to collaborate with the UN system to ensure its success.

The Syrian economy must also recover; Syrians cannot rely solely on the generosity of donors and humanitarian assistance. Economic sanctions must be lifted.

The A3+ namely Guyana, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Algeria call for a genuine political process that addresses all challenges facing Syria today and help the Syrian people meet their legitimate aspirations. All efforts should be aligned towards this objective, far from narrow political interests and calculations.

It is our duty to the Syrians after years of suffering.

I thank you.