Madam President,

Thank you for organizing this meeting. We also thank the Head of IIIM for her briefing to the General Assembly.

Last month marked the 12th anniversary of the conflict in Syria, which caused unspeakable suffering for millions of Syrians.

Türkiye has stood by the Syrian people since the beginning of the conflict; and supported the efforts for accountability and the fight against impunity in Syria.

Accountability is needed not only to alleviate the suffering and to prevent future crimes.

It is also a prerequisite for social reconciliation and a peaceful and sustainable settlement of the conflict.

With this understanding, Türkiye supports and closely cooperates with all international mechanisms that investigate war crimes, crimes against humanity and violations of international humanitarian law in Syria.

Accordingly, Türkiye supported the creation of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM), co-sponsored the UN General Assembly resolution that established the Mechanism in 2016 and since then continued to support its mandate and work.

We also welcome the close contact and cooperation of the Syrian Interim Government - as the executive organ of the legitimate Syrian opposition - with IIIM and other accountability mechanisms for Syria, such as the Commission of Inquiry and OPCW Investigation and Identification Team.

Madam President,

The February 6th earthquakes have compounded the already grave situation in Syria and once again revealed the inter-connected nature of the problems in this country as well as the urgency of a political solution.

It is important to use the environment that emerged in the aftermath of the earthquakes in order to address the fundamental issues underpinning the conflict and to create a momentum in the political track.

Türkiye will continue to support a political solution to this prolonged conflict that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

Thank you.