Thank you, Mr. President,

It is a pleasure to welcome you to the Council today. We highly appreciate your contributions toward a more stable and secure Syria and the region.

I would also like to thank Deputy Special Envoy Mr. Cordone, Assistant-Secretary-General Ms. Msuya and Ms. Mardini for their comprehensive briefings and testimonies.

Mr. President,

Since the start of the year, the situation on the ground in Syria has evolved swiftly and in a meaningful manner. Progress across the security, political, and economic spheres indicates a shift toward a more hopeful and constructive path.

The integration process in Syria should continue uninterrupted, irrespective of regional developments. At the same time, unrealistic expectations should be avoided.

In this regard, bringing all segments of Syrian society together around the government through an inclusive approach, and accelerating reconstruction efforts, remain critical priorities. Türkiye encourages the Syrian Government to further enhance inclusiveness in the political process so as to fully reflect Syria’s diversity.

We note with appreciation the comprehensive approach adopted by the Syrian Government to engage different segments of society and to develop mechanisms of accountability with a view to ensuring respect for human rights, including the work of Syria’s National Investigation Committee.

There is a clear window of opportunity to achieve lasting stability in Syria. This opportunity must be seized through sustained and constructive engagement with the Syrian Government.

The delisting of Nusra Front/HTS from the UN sanctions regime has constituted an important step toward supporting the international legitimacy of the Syrian Government.

Mr. President,

Recent developments in our region risk generating further instability, both regionally and beyond. It is therefore essential to keep Syria insulated from these tensions, as the country needs to consolidate its efforts toward stability, security, and economic recovery.

We commend the Syrian Government for its efforts to keep the country away from the regional escalation. These efforts deserve the full support of the international community, especially this Council.

Following recent Israeli attacks on Lebanon, more than one million people have been internally displaced, and over one hundred thousand—predominantly Syrians—have crossed the border and sought refuge in Syria. Similar one had happened in 2006.

In the face of this large-scale population movement, it is of utmost importance that UN entities, in particular UNHCR and OCHA, continue to provide the necessary support to the Syrian Government. This, in turn, requires adequate and sustained funding of the humanitarian response plan.

At the same time, the threat posed by DAESH must be closely monitored in this period of heightened instability. We must not allow the current environment to provide an opportunity for its re-emergence.

In this regard, the Syrian Government, as a member of the Global Coalition against DAESH, should be supported in strengthening its counter-terrorism capacity.

Türkiye has also contributed to these efforts, including through recent actions to dismantle dangerous DAESH cells.

Mr. President,

Stability in southern Syria must be ensured in full compliance with the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement. In this context, we reiterate our call for Israel’s withdrawal from the buffer zone and from the areas it has occupied since 8 December.

Respect for Syria’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity remains indispensable.

Mr. President,

Türkiye will continue to act as a constructive partner for all those committed to supporting stability, security, reconciliation, and sustainable economic recovery in Syria.

Mr. President,

Beyond these written talking points, let me add something on the anniversary of the start of the revolution. As a Turkish diplomat who served in Syria twice during Bashar Assad time, I am aware of the factors led to this revolution, from losing hope to unfulfilled promises of the regime. Certainly, the conflict impacted first Syria and Syrian people, they suffered more than everybody else, but secondly my country was impacted very much, country-wise and people-wise. Last week on the occasion of the awarding Mr. Secretary General with Atatürk International Peace Prize in Ankara by President Erdoğan, I accompanied Mr. Secretary General in his visit to Migration Agency in Ankara, where he met the Syrian migrants who were waiting processes like Yusra. We met together civil society organizations who helped UNHCR during all these conflict years. We first saw their appreciation to my country, but more than that, we saw hope for the future of their country, the future of their families and children. Syrian revolution is there and now Syria deserves our full support for the future.

Thank you.