United Nations Secretary-Common António Guterres concluded a two-day go to to Syria on Sunday, calling for the lifting of all sanctions in opposition to Syria.
Throughout his go to, Mr. Guterres met with senior officers, together with President Ahmed al-Shallah, Overseas Minister Assad al-Shaibani, and the president of the brand new interim parliament, which held its first session this month.
In Damascus, he additionally met with members of the United Nations peacekeeping power deployed to the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan Heights, in addition to representatives of Syrian civil society, various communities, ladies and youth.
He additionally visited Sednaya Jail close to the capital, Syria’s most notoriously brutal jail underneath the al-Assad regime.
Many international locations, primarily Western international locations, imposed sanctions through the period of ousted ruler Bashar al-Assad. Syria’s new authorities, who took energy in December 2024, are turning the web page after greater than 13 years of conflict, restarting the financial system and rebuilding infrastructure and establishments.
Western international locations, together with america, have introduced sanctions reduction for Syria, however buyers stay cautious, with the World Financial institution estimating that Syria’s post-war reconstruction might value $216 billion (190 billion euros).
“We welcome the measures to ease sanctions and open new prospects for financial restoration, however all these sanctions have to be lifted instantly,” Guterres informed a information convention in Damascus, concluding what he referred to as a “deeply significant and productive go to.”
“The United Nations stands with the Syrian individuals at this important second, and I’ve include the strongest potential enchantment to the worldwide group: to spare no effort in supporting the Syrian individuals and the Syrian authorities,” Guterres mentioned.
“Syria wants funding in its individuals, financial system and establishments. Syria wants assist to revive important providers, rebuild infrastructure and restore livelihoods.”
It added that assist was wanted “for the protected, voluntary and dignified return of refugees and internally displaced individuals.”
In keeping with the United Nations, about 1.7 million refugees have returned to Syria since Assad’s ouster, with about 5.5 million nonetheless dwelling within the nation and about 6 million dwelling overseas.
Guterres would be the first UN Secretary-Common to go to Syria since his predecessor Ban Ki-moon in 2009, two years earlier than the outbreak of the Syrian conflict that has killed greater than 500,000 individuals.
Syria experiences new Israeli invasion of southern area
Throughout Guterres’ go to, Syrian state media reported that Israeli forces had invaded the south of the nation.
“Israeli occupation forces invaded the villages of Mariya and al-Arda within the Yarmouk basin in western Daraa province early Sunday,” state information company SANA mentioned.
The newspaper mentioned the troopers, accompanied by three army autos and a bulldozer, arrange a checkpoint in al-Arda, and the army “distributed leaflets in cities within the Yarmouk basin warning residents of highway closures and obstruction of car motion.”
After the overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Israel despatched troops to the United Nations patrolled buffer zone that had separated Israeli and Syrian forces within the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
It carried out assaults and repeatedly penetrated deep into Syrian territory.
Israeli officers mentioned they intend to maintain troops in a “safety zone” in southern Syria and search a broader demilitarized zone.
“Violations of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are unacceptable and should cease,” Guterres mentioned on Saturday.
“What is going on within the space across the Golan Heights is totally unacceptable,” he mentioned, stressing that “the Golan Heights is Syrian territory.”
In a gathering with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Saturday, Guterres reaffirmed the UN’s “dedication to Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity” and expressed deep concern over Israel’s violation of the 1974 Armed Forces Disengagement Settlement, in response to a UN assertion.
Since al-Sharaa got here to energy, the worldwide group has referred to as on the brand new authorities to determine a system of governance that features all elements of Syria’s multi-ethnic, multi-religious society.
“There isn’t any doubt that this transition is transferring in the best route,” Guterres mentioned.
