Statement by Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the United Nations Samuel Žbogar at the UNSC meeting on the Security Council mission to Lebanon and Syria (2–7 December 2025)

I will deliver a statement on behalf of the co-leads Algeria, Denmark, and my own country Slovenia.

Distinguished Members of the Security Council, dear colleagues,

Two weeks ago, the Security Council undertook a historic visit to Syria and Lebanon.

At the outset, I would like to thank the Syrian and Lebanese Authorities for the quality of the organization and the hospitality extended during the visit.

I would first like to turn to Syria and begin by expressing our sincere gratitude for the assistance in organizing this visit, extended by Ambassador Olabi, his team, and the Transitional Authorities.

Our visit, which took place in the days leading up to the first anniversary of the fall of the Assad regime, had one clear objective: to build trust. Not only the trust of the Security Council in the work of the Syrian Government of the transitional period, but equally the trust of the Syrian Government of the transitional period and the Syrian people in the international community.

During our visit, we engaged directly with Syrian stakeholders and assessed developments on the ground. We held constructive meetings with President Ahmed Al-Sharaa and his cabinet, including Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani, and other senior officials. We also met with members of the United Nations Country team, as well as a broad variety of representatives of civil society, local and religious leaders from across the country, as well as national committees, including the National Commission for Transitional Justice, the National Commission for the Missing, and the Higher Committee for the Elections of the People’s Assembly.

The visit also allowed the Council to note the extensive destruction in a neighbourhood of Damascus, while at the same time observing the sense of hope demonstrated by Syrians striving to rebuild their country.

Our discussions covered a wide range of issues, including justice and reconciliation, humanitarian assistance and reconstruction, the political transition, counterterrorism, and other matters of shared concern. The breadth of these conversations reflected both the scale of the challenges and the strong desire among Syrians to move toward stability and recovery.

This visit served as a clear demonstration of the international community’s solidarity with the Syrian people. We reaffirmed our strong support for Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity. In this regard, several members expressed grave concern over Israeli violations.

We welcomed assurances by the Syrian Government of the transitional period that Syria would not pose a threat to the region or to the broader international community, as well as their stated commitment to peace and security.

We conveyed a unified message: the future of Syria must be shaped by Syrians themselves, despite existing challenges. A Syrian-owned and Syrian-led political process, in line with the key principles of United Nations Security Council resolution 2254, remains essential. We also emphasized the importance of inclusivity, ensuring that all Syrians have a voice in shaping their country’s future, including through the meaningful participation of Syrian women and youth.

The visit enabled members of the Security Council to witness first-hand the efforts to maintain stability and improve the economic situation in Syria, to recognize the tangible progress achieved as well as the challenges which remain, and to further underscored that the international community stands ready to support these efforts, in ways determined by Syrians, and in support of peace, stability, and recovery.

The Security Council also expressed its hope to finalize an agreement on the reconfiguration of the United Nations presence in Damascus. This would enable the UN, with all its instruments, lessons learned, and expertise, to stand at the side of the Syrian people.

We met with victims’ groups, governors from Suweida and Daraa and the Coastal region as well as representatives of the national investigation and fact-finding committees and expressed our expectation for an inclusive political process and for transparent justice for atrocities committed over the past fourteen years, as well as the most recent ones.

We also expressed our support for the efforts to accelerate the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking, and to ensure safety and security for all components of Syrian society.

Finally, we reaffirmed our full support for the ongoing work of the United Nations, including the efforts of the Office of the Special Envoy, carried out in coordination with the relevant authorities.

We look forward to continuing our engagement with Syrian representatives here in New York.

Let me now turn to the visit to Lebanon and equally express our sincere gratitude for the assistance in organizing this visit, extended by Ambassador Arafa, his team, and the Lebanese Government.

During the visit, Council members met with President Joseph Aoun, Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji, and engaged in frank and substantive exchanges on the path ahead for Lebanon.

During these meetings, the Council discussed the Lebanese government’s decision to ensure a state monopoly over arms throughout its territory, as well as priorities related to strengthening of the Lebanese Armed Forces, economic reform, and the urgent reconstruction of Southern Lebanon.

Strong support was voiced for the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political independence of Lebanon. Council members reiterated their full support for the full implementation of resolution 1701 and their commitment to the responsibility to help restore calm along the Blue Line, and secure a long-term solution. The Council welcomed the additional deployment of Lebanese Armed Forces to southern Lebanon.

Council members also underscored the importance of supporting Lebanon’s economic and institutional reforms as a cornerstone for restoring confidence and unlocking international support for recovery and reconstruction.

During the meetings, Lebanese interlocutors condemned the continued encroachments by the IDF on Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, including through the establishment of forward positions and buffer zones north of the Blue Line as well as launching daily strikes inside Lebanon, which they noted are a clear violation of resolution 1701 and risk further undermining Lebanese government’s efforts to spread its authority across all its territory and further eroding prospects for restoring stability.

The Council also met with the Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident- and Humanitarian Coordinator Imran Riza as well as Acting Executive Director of ESCWA Mourad Wahba. These meetings gave Council members a deeper insight into how the UN is supporting Lebanon across multiple lines of effort from humanitarian assistance to long-term development and institutional resilience.

Furthermore, the Council met with the Chair of the Cessation of Hostilities Mechanism, US Lieutenant General Joseph Clearfield. The general gave an overview of how the Mechanism works in practice, highlighting both its achievements and constraints.

Finally, the Council travelled to Naqoura where it visited and was provided an operational briefing by UNIFIL led by Major General Diodato Abagnara. Council Members also visited UNIFIL position 1-31 and met with the peacekeepers posted to monitor and report on the situation on the ground. Council Members voiced their strong support to UNIFIL and the peacekeepers in fulfilling the mandate outlined by the Council. This demands respect for safety and security of UNIFIL personnel and premises.

While challenges and risks remain, I believe Council left Lebanon with a renewed optimism that the Government of Lebanon is striving to strengthen its institutions, extend its sovereignty, monopolize weapons outside its control, and engaging politically to solidify the cessation of hostilities and ensure respect for resolution 1701, in a particularly challenging security environment and while under immense pressure.

I am strongly convinced that the visit provided Council Members with important insights and that these observations will be taken into account as we continue our regular deliberations on resolution 1701 and UNIFIL, and the phase after its withdrawal that starts in January 2027, with a shared commitment to Lebanon’s sovereignty, stability and prosperity.

Dear colleagues,

I would like to conclude by expressing my gratitude to fellow co-leads, Algeria and Denmark, in spearheading this visit and for the exemplary cooperation between us. As well as to fellow Council members for the cooperation throughout the planning and conduct of the visit, which reflected the true spirit of collective responsibility that must guide the work of this Council. We are also thankful for support provided by the Secretariat and UN personnel on the ground.

Thank you.

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