Guterres from Damascus: The Golan is Syrian land
Guterres added, during a press conference held at Tishrin Palace in Damascus with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan Al-Shaybani, that “the United Nations looks forward to cooperating with Syria in all fields and with the international community to support its future and prosperity.”
He stressed that “the Syrian people have endured many years of hardship, yet have not lost their qualities of resilience, endurance, innovation, creativity, and sense of belonging. Syria is now in a state of recovery and investment simultaneously, creating opportunities for all, and today is laying the foundations for a better future for all Syrians. This decision requires leadership, vision, and confidence, so that every Syrian can see themselves in their country’s future.”
Guterres called for the necessity of assisting Syria, which has emerged from a war that destroyed both people and infrastructure, stating: “No country emerges from a very severe conflict and rebuilds itself without help. We must support Syria in its design and determination to achieve this. Syria is now in a state of recovery and investment simultaneously, creating opportunities for all.”
For his part, Al-Shaybani confirmed that “ways to develop cooperation with the United Nations to enhance reconstruction efforts and the partnership path between Syria and the UN in its new phase of recovery and reconstruction have been discussed.”
He affirmed that his country “is today presenting a strategic model of peace, where we focused on securing our borders by monopolizing weapons in the hands of the state. The Syrian experience today stands out as offering the world an exceptional success story, as Syria has established unprecedented cooperation with the UN organization, moving beyond traditional political coordination frameworks to transparent institutional openness.”
The Syrian Foreign Minister stressed that “Israeli violations of Syrian territory pose a direct threat to regional security,” adding that “this is the first visit by the Secretary-General of the international organization to Syria in 17 years, and its intensive program carries profound implications that go beyond official dimensions, constituting a clear declaration of Syria’s transition to the position of an active partner of the United Nations.”
He noted that 3.5 million Syrians have returned to their country in one of the largest voluntary return movements in the world, calling for the United Nations and the European Union to play a role in Syria.
The UN Secretary-General arrived in Damascus this morning and took a tour of Old Damascus, after which he was received by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, in the presence of Minister Al-Shaybani and a number of relevant officials.
During the meeting, ways to enhance cooperation between the Arab Republic of Syria and the United Nations in humanitarian and developmental fields were discussed, along with supporting early recovery and reconstruction efforts, and reaffirming respect for Syria’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.
Guterres participated in an expanded meeting at Tishrin Palace with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Emergency and Disaster Affairs, and Social Affairs and Labor, the Governor of the Central Bank of Syria, and Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
Syrian sources stated that the Secretary-General will travel tomorrow to the Quneitra governorate to meet with United Nations “UNDOF” forces operating in the Syrian Golan.
Guterres is scheduled to meet in Damascus with representatives of civil society organizations.
