Thank you, Mr. President,

We welcome Your Excellency and congratulate the Presidency of Greece once again. I would like to express our gratitude to Mr. Pedersen and Mr. Rajasingham for their comprehensive briefings and reiterate our support to their essential work.

As we convene today, we are presented with a genuine opportunity to support Syria on its journey towards lasting peace, stability, and prosperity. Since December 8, the Syrian administration has taken concrete and promising steps to restore security and stability across the country. These steps must be met with decisive and constructive engagement from the international community.

In this regard, we welcome the recent decision by the United States to lift all sanctions on Syria. We also commend the UK’s and European Union’s announcements concerning sanctions. These are timely and vital developments. Lifting sanctions and alleviating economic pressure on Syria and its people will significantly accelerate reconstruction efforts — which are critical to achieving stabilization, recovery, return of refugees, and ultimately, reconciliation.

Türkiye has played an active role in diplomatic efforts to help remove this key obstacle on Syria’s recovery. The high-level meeting held between President Erdoğan, President Trump, President Sharaa, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as the trilateral meeting among Foreign Minister Fidan, Secretary of State Rubio, and Foreign Minister Shaibani in Türkiye, have laid an important foundation for this new phase.

We stress the importance of the swift and full implementation of the agreed steps. Any delay would only prolong instability and human suffering.

Mr. President,

Comprehensive and sustained reconstruction efforts also remain urgent for Syria. Millions of Syrians continue to live abroad or are displaced internally due to widespread infrastructure destruction and the slow pace of rebuilding. Since December 8, more than half a million Syrians have returned to their homeland. Additionally, 1.2 million internally displaced persons have exited camps and returned to their areas of origin.

However, millions more are still waiting for the ripe conditions to be established in order to return in a safe, dignified, and voluntary manner.

Türkiye therefore calls upon the international community to scale up support for Syria’s reconstruction. Investments in infrastructure, basic services, and livelihood creation will directly contribute to regional stability and allow millions of displaced Syrians to return home.

We also believe that empowering Syrian institutions and strengthening their capacity is essential for effective governance.

Mr. President,

We reaffirm our position that any development in Syria must uphold the country’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. We call on all segments of Syrian society to exercise restraint, refrain from provocations and prioritize calm and stability.

Türkiye calls for the immediate and full implementation of the agreement between Damascus and the so-called “SDF” in a manner that ensures a single, centralized administration across Syria.

Türkiye remains ready to cooperate with the Syrian administration to secure detention centers and camps in the northeast, and to prevent any resurgence of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, particularly from DEASH. In this context, Türkiye, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon are coordinating efforts to establish a regional mechanism to combat DEASH. This is a serious commitment from our side.

We reiterate our call on Israel to cease its actions that violate Syria’s sovereignty and threaten regional peace and security. The full implementation of the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement must be ensured by this Council.

Mr. President,

We welcome the recent announcement by the Syrian administration on the establishment of a National Commission on Transitional Justice and a National Commission on Missing Persons. These are significant milestones in addressing the legacy of the conflict and fostering national healing.

Transitional justice is not only a moral imperative, but also a practical necessity for durable peace. Victims have the right to truth and justice. Preventing the recurrence of past violations is central to building a Syria that is inclusive and just for all Syrian citizens.

A stable and unified Syria, which is at peace with itself and its neighbourhood and does not offer a safe haven for terrorist organizations, will support regional security and prosperity.

Türkiye remains committed to working with the Syrian administration and all partners in supporting the Syrian people as they build a peaceful, unified, and prosperous future. Let us seize this moment of hope and turn it into tangible progress on the ground.

Mr. President,

Türkiye will always continue to be a good neighnour for Syria and Syrian people.

I thank you.