United Nations Special Envoy for Syria
Dear President, (Albanian Ambassador Ferit Hoxha)
1. I have met with the Syrian government, the Syrian Negotiations Commission, and all significant foreign players during several weeks of intense diplomacy on Syria in Geneva, Beirut, Damascus, and New York. Parallel to this, Deputy Special Envoy Najat Rochdi and our team have been interacting extensively with Syrians. We have done this through holding virtual engagements with actors on the ground, such as those from Deir-ez-Zor and al-Sweida, as well as through the Women's Advisory Board, which met recently in Rome and through consultations with participants in the Civil Society Support Room in Istanbul.
2. Syria is in ruins, and peace is yet far off, as the Secretary-General informed the General Assembly. Sadly, a comprehensive resolution to the Syrian situation is still unattainable. The impasse can be attributed to a number of factors, including a lack of political will, a gap in the parties' substantive positions, a high degree of mistrust, and the difficult international environment.
3. However, the pain and pessimism among Syrians are getting worse. We can't just put up with the current situation because it will only become worse, it might fall apart, and that will present new difficulties. In order to bring about tangible improvements and inspire hope, the political process must begin. When we look at the concerning tendencies that are occurring, we can see this.
3. However, the pain and pessimism among Syrians are getting worse. We can't just put up with the current situation because it will only become worse, it might fall apart, and that will present new difficulties. In order to bring about tangible improvements and inspire hope, the political process must begin. When we look at the concerning tendencies that are occurring, we can see this.
Mr. President
Secretary General for Syria
5. Meanwhile, violence against civilians continues to claim civilian lives and inflict injuries, and tens of thousands of them are injured. Conditions are not being established for the displaced to return willingly, safely, and with dignity.
6. In fact, some of the biggest dangers to the relative quiet that has lasted since 2020 have emerged during this time. Among them have been:
- Two weeks of fighting between the SDF and Arab tribes in Deir ez-Zor.
- Turkish and pro-Government airstrikes, as well as more skirmishes and gunfire between the SDF and armed opposition and Türkiye, were sparked by armed opposition groups attempting to penetrate into SDF-held area.
- Threatened by the Russian-Turkish ceasefire lines in March 2020, the Security Council-listed terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has been undertaking several cross-border raids into northwest Syria alongside an ally group that aims to seize and hold territory from the government.
- A sharp increase in airstrikes and shelling in support of the government against northwest Syria.
- More details about Israeli airstrikes.
- More details about the airstrikes in Jordan.
- More events involving security in the southwest.
- There have been reports of internal strife within HTS in the northwest and between armed opposition organizations and pro-government forces in the northeast.
- and other ISIL attack reports.
8. Allow me to emphasize how important it is to uphold the right to peaceful protest in every part of Syria and how important it is that these protests stay peaceful. Furthermore, let me to emphasize how urgent it is to put an end to all forms of violence against civilians, uphold international humanitarian law and human rights, and seek to establish a statewide ceasefire.
9. In the meanwhile, I notice that UN humanitarian supplies from Turkey into northwest Syria through the Bab al-Hawa border have resumed; you will receive further information from OCHA. It is necessary to use every modality, including crossline. Resources are also badly needed for all other pillars, including the Humanitarian Response Plan's enhancement of early recovery and for host nations and refugees. Additionally, we must make sure that any negative effects of the sanctions on regular Syrians are avoided or at least lessened. To do this, we must fully utilize the humanitarian exemptions that are now in place and work with sanctioning governments to prevent overcompliance.
10. After this, in order to alter the dynamics I have just shown in great detail, we urgently need to concentrate on political movement. This calls for a mental adjustment. I realize this is a lot to ask. However, politics is compromise, as the Secretary-General stated to the General Assembly last week. Effective leadership is compromise, as is diplomacy. The Syrian parties, together with all the major players on the international scene, must consider compromise on a deeper level than many have done thus far. If they do, it will be feasible to take swift action in tandem to halt unfavorable developments in the political, security, and economic spheres and to restore a Syrian-led and -owned political process, as stipulated in Security Council resolution 2254.
10. After this, in order to alter the dynamics I have just shown in great detail, we urgently need to concentrate on political movement. This calls for a mental adjustment. I realize this is a lot to ask. However, politics is compromise, as the Secretary-General stated to the General Assembly last week. Effective leadership is compromise, as is diplomacy. The Syrian parties, together with all the major players on the international scene, must consider compromise on a deeper level than many have done thus far. If they do, it will be feasible to take swift action in tandem to halt unfavorable developments in the political, security, and economic spheres and to restore a Syrian-led and -owned political process, as stipulated in Security Council resolution 2254.