15 May 2026
Thank you, Mr. President.
At the outset, I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General Tom Fletcher and Deputy Special Envoy Claudio Cordone for their detailed and informative briefings.
It is encouraging to note that Syria has remained among the least affected countries by the current regional turmoil. This demonstrates that since December 2024, Syria has been moving slowly but surely toward sustainable stability.
In this context, despite Israel’s destabilizing activities in Syria and the wider region over the past year and a half, we commend the Syrian authorities for maintaining their commitment to the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement.
We reiterate our call on Israel to fully comply with this agreement without delay, refrain from further escalatory actions and reverse its encroachment.
Preserving stability in southern Syria remains essential not only for Syrian security, but also for broader regional stability.
Mr. President,
On the internal front, the recently initiated judicial process to hold accountable those responsible for serious human rights violations during the former regime era constitutes an important step toward accountability and addressing long-standing societal grievances.
The convening of the People’s Assembly will mark an important milestone in Syria’s political process. It can also boost reconstruction efforts through the adoption of the necessary legislative framework.
At the same time, bringing the integration process in northeast Syria to a swift and uninterrupted conclusion, advancing reconstruction efforts and ensuring an inclusive political transition should remain high on the national agenda.
There is no room for dual structures within the military, judiciary or administration of a united Syria.
Mr. President,
We are beginning to see the initial positive outcomes of efforts aimed at supporting Syria’s economic recovery. However, restoring critical infrastructure remains among the most urgent requirements for Syria’s stabilization and recovery efforts.
Türkiye continues to exert intensive efforts in sectors that can generate a multiplier effect in improving conditions on the ground.
Recent disruptions in trade routes due to the situation in the Strait of Hormuz have once again highlighted the strategic importance of regional interconnectivity.
In this regard, a stable and unified Syria can serve as a vital nexus connecting the Middle East, Türkiye and Europe through trade, transportation, energy and infrastructure networks.
With this vision, Türkiye, Syria and Jordan recently signed an agreement between the Ministries of Transport to advance road and railway connectivity.
Economic recovery and return to normalcy in Syria cannot be achieved without ensuring security in daily life.
In this regard, war remnants remain a pressing concern requiring sustained international attention. The current absence of large-scale violence creates an opportunity to work more coherently to address the challenges posed by mines, unexploded ordnance and chemical weapons remnants.
At the same time, the threat posed by Daesh must continue to be monitored closely, particularly given the risk that the group may seek to exploit regional instability to regroup and re-emerge.
The Syrian government continues to strengthen its counterterrorism capacity and deserves sustained international support in this regard.
Mr. President,
For more than a decade, Türkiye facilitated the cross-border mechanism, which served as a critical lifeline for millions of Syrians in close cooperation with OCHA and other UN entities.
While this mechanism has now come to an end, Türkiye will continue to support humanitarian and other Syria-related activities of UN agencies, particularly those of OCHA, in close coordination with the Syrian authorities and relevant stakeholders.
In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that Türkiye will continue to stand by the Syrian people and support the Syrian government in overcoming the challenges they face.
Thank you.