I’d like to start by thanking Special Envoy Pedersen and Under-Secretary General Fletcher for your briefings.
Thank you also to Ms Seif for your briefing and for your tireless advocacy efforts.
We echo your calls for an inclusive political transition that prioritises the participation and leadership of women in Syria.
President, I would like to make three points today.
First, this month Syrians marked the 14th anniversary of the start of the uprising against the Assad regime.
At last, they can see the prospect of a more stable and hopeful future.
But horrific events this month demonstrate too that this remains a fragile and critical moment in Syria.
We welcome the Interim Authorities’ announcement establishing a fact-finding committee to investigate and prosecute individuals who committed crimes during the clashes in Syria’s coastal areas.
A peaceful and secure country is in the interests of all Syrians and the wider region.
Diplomacy and dialogue are the best way of achieving this and we urge all parties to refrain from further violence and to exercise restraint at this critical moment.
We are concerned by Defence Minister Katz’s declaration that the Israeli presence in the Area of Separation and the Golan Heights could be for an unlimited period.
This is unacceptable and Israel must present clear and reasonable timelines for their withdrawal in line with international law.
Second, we note the progress made in Syria’s political transition.
We welcome the Constitutional Declaration’s provisions on freedom of expression, religion and women’s rights alongside the commitment to establish a Transitional Justice Commission.
We call for swift implementation of these actions and hope the Declaration will provide a solid foundation for a transition that guarantees the rights of all Syrians.
A clear approach on accountability and transitional justice is essential for national reconciliation and to prevent a recurrence of the violence we saw this month.
Progress on this cannot wait.
As the Interim Authorities take these next steps, we call for a consultative and inclusive process and for appointments to the Transitional Government to reflect Syria’s rich diversity.
Finally, we recognise the immense challenges of rebuilding Syria and that this cannot be done without economic recovery and the international community’s coordinated support.
The UK is committed to Syria’s recovery, underlined by our pledge at last week’s Brussels conference of up to $207 million in critical humanitarian assistance.
This will alleviate some of the suffering in Syria, as well as helping Syrians in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, who generously host so many refugees.
In parallel, the UK has relaxed some sanctions on Syria and revoked the asset freezes of 24 entities and institutions in the energy, transport and finance sectors.
We have also issued a General Licence to support transactions for humanitarian activities in Syria.
In conclusion, President, the UK stands with the Syrian people in building a more stable, free and prosperous future.
