Statement by the Republic of Slovenia at the briefing on the situation in the Middle East, Syria

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Slovenia.

I thank Special Envoy Pedersen and Director OCHA Rajasingham for their briefings.

The ongoing tense and violent situation across many fronts in Syria is highly worrying, especially in combination with the escalation of violence in wider region. We urge all major stakeholders to redouble efforts towards regional de-escalation in the interest of long-term peace and stability for all – including for an urgent immediate ceasefire in Gaza, a return to calm in Lebanon and across the Blue Line.

In this growing regional turmoil, Syria continues to sleepwalk into further deterioration. Moreover, this is happening on our watch. We urgently need a viable political solution of the conflict through a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned process under the auspices of the UN. Slovenia fully supports the Special Envoy’s efforts to find a political solution, in line with the Security Council Resolution 2254.

Syrians continue to face violent conflict, oppression, human rights violations and abuses, economic crisis and a desperate humanitarian situation. This war has already shattered countless lives and forced more than 14 million Syrians to leave their home and seek safety elsewhere, including by embarking on perilous journeys to distant foreign places. They are people with hopes and dreams trying to rebuild their shattered lives and they are people with stories of how to give back to the communities that have heeded their plight. They must be protected and treated with dignity in every place of their refuge. We need to do more to counter the anti-refugee rhetoric and sentiment, as the conditions for their safe, voluntary, dignified and informed return are not yet met.  

The issue of detained and missing demands urgent action, with arbitrary detention and arrest, torture in detention and disappearances continuing in all areas of Syria. Such repressive practices must stop. The sheer scale of this issue is a stark reminder that no lasting reconciliation is possible without addressing the grief of the families of the missing. Slovenia reiterates that there cannot be lasting peace without accountability of the perpetrators. Survivors, victims and their loved ones deserve justice. We reiterate our call on the Government of Syria to ensure compliance with the provisional measures of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and to engage with the independent Institution on Missing Persons in Syria.

Without the prospect of a political solution, the already dire humanitarian situation will only continue to worsen. We recognize the current crisis continues to generate humanitarian needs unparalleled in scale, severity, and complexity. The trend of increasing number of population depending on the international humanitarian assistance is not sustainable. Syrian people need immediate, predictable and efficient aid flows – including cross-border and cross-line aid – across the whole country, as well as conditions that will allow them to begin rebuilding their homes, their lives and communities.

In conclusion, we reiterate our full support to Special Envoy’s efforts, and we call on parties to use the coming days during the High Level Week of the 79^th General Assembly to move towards working on a lasting political solution in Syria for the sake of Syrian people and their future.

I now resume my function as President of the Council.

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