Madame President,

Often times, in this chamber, we speak of the need to tackle the root cause of a conflict to seed peace and prevent the emergence of future conflict.

The fact is, the root cause of the crisis in Syria is political.

The Syrian people had been deprived of their basic human rights and fundamental freedoms.

They have known injustice for decades.

The injustice of not having the protection of a proper constitution.

The injustice of certain groups not being recognized by the State as Syrian citizens.

Conflict emerged when the Syrian people overcame fear and sought democratic rights, freedoms, and a democratic constitution.

We cannot pretend that once hostilities cease, the Syrian people would be happy to return to the pre-conflict status quo.

The international community must to listen to the Syrian people.

The root cause of the conflict is still out there: restriction of fundamental rights and freedoms by the Syrian regime.

Madame President,

We speak of accountability in this Chamber, we must remain accountable to the Syrian people.

Yet, there are some who wish to normalize relations with the regime. When instead, we must normalize the implementation of the universal human rights afforded to the people of Syria.

We know that the only way this will happen is by advancing the political process through the Constitutional Committee. Thereby, achieving a political settlement in accordance with Resolution 2254.

Türkiye will consistently support efforts to continue de-escalation on the ground, in order to create an environment within which the political solution will last.

In accordance with this approach, we held the seventeenth international meeting on Syria in the Astana Format.

We support and appreciate efforts by the Special Envoy Pedersen which we hope will lead to the success of the Constitutional Committee.

Yet, thus far, we have not seen any good will on the part of the regime.

It is clear that they intend to stall the process until they kill the opposition on the ground.

The regime’s attacks in Idlib specifically target civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Strikes destroyed Arshani pumping station which serves as a water source for almost one quarter of a million people.

A recent targeted attack on a farm is yet another example of violence perpetrated by the regime.

These attacks have become commonplace, but that does not make them any less heinous. These are grave violations of international humanitarian law.

Madame President,

Some actors in the region have misguidedly tied their hopes of eradicating DEASH to another terrorist organization: PKK/YPG.

We have consistently warned the international community about this terrorist organization.

We have, on numerous occasions, expressed our concerns that DEASH members are being released in exchange for bribes which will only aid in its resurgence.

The prison break and subsequent clashes proved once again the impotence and unreliability of the PKK/YPG-dominated SDF.

Let us also briefly address upon the acts of aggression by the PKK/YPG for the Council:

In the last year, more than 350 civilians died during terror attacks by the PKK/YPG.

They attacked Shifa Hospital in Afrin.

They have recruited child soldiers.

They prevented civilians from returning to their homes including Kurds and Yazidis.

They violently suppressed peaceful civilian protests.

They arrested Arabic teachers.

These acts and atrocities are well documented in the reports of international organizations and NGOs.

Most recently, on Thursday January 20th, 7 civilians, 5 of whom were children, were killed and 30 civilians were injured by rocket fire from the terror group.

We assure you, all terror organizations be PKK/YPG or DEASH will pay for the atrocities they commit.

We will not tolerate any terrorist organization nor will they find safe haven along our borders.

Madame President,

In order to establish a lasting political solution in Syria, there should be no support from the international community to the regime, nor to the terror organizations.

The world entrusted the permanent members of this Council to maintain world peace, to uphold the Charter of the United Nations, and to protect the people we have pledged to serve.

We have elected the non-permanent members to do the same.

So far, the Security Council has failed the Syrian people.

We implore all members of the Council to act now and save the people of Syria, and their future.

Thank you.