Mr. President,

I would like to thank Special Envoy Pedersen and Under Secretary-General Griffiths for their briefings. I also extend our congratulations to USG Griffiths on the assumption of his new role and look forward to welcoming him in Türkiye.

As we recently marked World Humanitarian Day, let me express our gratitude to humanitarian workers across Syria who are risking their lives to help Syrian people. We will continue to support their tireless efforts.

Over a year, in the face of the worsening humanitarian situation and the adverse impact of COVID-19, we have emphasized that the UN cross-border mechanism is more crucial than ever.

The Secretary-General, OCHA, other UN agencies and humanitarian organizations on the ground have underscored the need to continue the critical humanitarian assistance to Syrian people.

With the adoption of the Security Council Resolution 2585 last month, the Council made a choice between the urgent needs of the Syrian people and the political calculations of the Assad regime. We welcome the Council’s decision to renew the mechanism for twelve months.

As we speak, millions of people in the northwest continue their struggle to survive with aid coming from Türkiye through Bab al Hawa crossing. This also includes the COVID-19 vaccines which remain indispensable given the presence of highly densely populated areas in the region. My country continues to support and facilitate UN cross-border operations.

Mr. President,

Regarding Resolution 2585, let me put on record the following points that require our collective attention.

We acknowledge the emphasis on broadening humanitarian activities in Syria, including early recovery projects. However, it is essential that these projects comprise all people in need, without any discrimination. We will not allow the regime and terrorist organizations to abuse this issue for their narrow agendas.

On cross-line access, let me remind you that Resolution 2585 highlights the entire country. This entails cross-line operations to the northeast as well, including to areas such as Rasul-ain and Tel Abyad where OCHA reports high severity of needs. Unfortunately, our calls regarding the need to conduct cross-line operations into that area fell on deaf ears for almost two years. People in the region didn’t receive one single COVID-19 vaccine to date. We repeat our call and request the start of cross-line operations to the area as soon as possible.

As for cross-line access to the northwest, Türkiye has already given its approval to the WFP plan of 2nd of July, which foresees a mission from Aleppo to Sarmada/Idlib. During the month of August, we conveyed our readiness to conduct the mission both to WFP and OCHA and committed security guarantees for its successful completion. We also expect relevant parties to give necessary security assurances and take measures to prevent provocative actions.

Mr. President,

We expect that the momentum created with Resolution 2585 on the humanitarian front will also have a positive impact on the political track.

We continue to support efforts towards finding a political solution to the Syrian conflict in line with Security Council Resolution 2254. However, the political process is not advancing in a satisfactory manner.

Despite Mr. Pedersen’s intense efforts over the last months, sixth round of the Constitutional Committee has not been convened due to the obstruction of the regime delegation. It is imperative that the Terms of Reference and Core Rules of Procedure of the Committee are respected.

Despite regime’s efforts to derail the Constitutional Committee, opposition’s ongoing constructive engagement is commendable. We have been urging the opposition to maintain this positive approach. Constitutional Committee remains the sole concrete element of the political process. We reiterate our call to all relevant parties to adopt the same constructive attitude towards the Constitutional Committee in order to make credible progress on the political track.

Astana process constitutes an integral part of efforts towards achieving a political solution in Syria. The 16th meeting of the Astana process, held in Nur-Sultan last month, focused on the political process and developments on the ground. Türkiye will sustain its endeavors to ensure that Astana process continues to contribute to the settlement of the Syrian conflict.

Mr. President,

The situation on the ground remains alarming. We are deeply concerned with the rising civilian toll. The protection of civilians is of paramount importance.

The regime has ramped up its ceasefire violations in the past two months. During this period, more than 50 civilians were killed. Attacks targeting civilians must stop. As long as the ceasefire violations persist, ending the conflict through a political solution that is acceptable to all sides will remain elusive.

After a decade of tremendous suffering and loss, it is clear that the only way to end the Syrian conflict is through a political solution. Continuing to seek a military solution to this day is delusional. Besieging towns, attacking and oppressing civilians will yield no results. In this vein, attacks against civilians in Dara’a are unacceptable and should cease immediately. Humanitarian access must be urgently granted to all Syrians in need.

PKK/YPG constitutes another major threat to the security of Syria. This terrorist organization and its offshoot SDF increasingly target and oppress civilians. We reiterate our call for a UN investigation into PKK/YPG’s attack against the UN supported Al-Shifa hospital in Afrin on June 12. Their persistent assaults on Afrin aim to prevent the return of local communities to this city, which has become more stable after being cleared from terrorists. International community must not remain silent in the face of attacks carried out by PKK/YPG in complicity with the regime.

Regarding the water disruption in Alouk, the reasons behind the problem are not only well known to UN agencies but also clearly reflected in relevant reports of the Secretary-General. Water is supplied from the Alouk station to Al Hasekeh region through water pumps which operate on electrical power coming from Tishrin Dam. The electrical supply to Rasul-ain and Tel Abyad from the Tishrin Dam through Mabrouka and Derbesiyah electricity stations, the only source of electrical power to the region, is deliberately cut by PKK/YPG on a regular basis.

Repairing teams under the coordination of Russia have been able to reach the station as of 27th of July. Lately, a technical team visited the area on 18 August.

PKK/YPG is a terrorist organization that bombs hospitals and civilian areas, recruits children, mercilessly kills and obstructs the return of local populations. Supporting such a terrorist entity under the pretext of fighting DAESH is unacceptable. Such support is brazenly channeled to oppressing local Syrians and enabling terrorist acts. Türkiye will continue its resolute fight against all terrorist organizations including DAESH and PKK/YPG.

Mr. President,

For more than a decade, the tragedies that Syrians endured are beyond imagination. By far, Syria has become the gravest humanitarian catastrophe of the century.

The regime’s war crimes and crimes against humanity are well recorded and require immediate steps towards full accountability. Among those crimes, the chemical weapons attack in Ghouta is probably one of the grimmest episodes in the Syrian conflict. On the occasion of the 8th anniversary of this horrible attack, we strongly condemn the repeated use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime in Ghouta and elsewhere. We reiterate our strong call for ensuring accountability for the crimes committed by Assad regime.

With lies we just heard, the regime will not be able to divert the attention of the international community from the atrocities it has committed.

Türkiye will continue to address the suffering of Syrian people and work towards the transformation of Syria into a peaceful and stable country.

Thank you.