Thank you, Mr. President,

At the outset, I would like to thank USG Fletcher and Deputy Special Envoy Cordone for their detailed and informative briefings.

It is really encouraging to note that Syria has remained among the least affected by the current regional turmoil in our region. This demonstrates that, since December 2024, Syria has been moving—slowly but surely—towards sustainable stability.

In this context, despite Israel’s destabilizing activities in Syria and the region over the past year and a half, we commend the Syrian authorities for maintaining their commitment to the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement. We reiterate our call on Israel to fully comply with this Agreement without delay, refrain from further escalatory actions, and reverse its encroachment. Preserving stability in southern Syria remains essential, not only for Syria’s security, but also for broader regional stability.

Mr. President,

On the internal front, the recently initiated judicial process to hold accountable those responsible for human rights violations during the fallen regime era constitutes an important step toward accountability and addressing long-standing societal grievances.

The convening of the People’s Assembly will mark an important milestone in Syria’s political process. It can also boost reconstruction efforts through initiating the process of adopting the necessary legislative framework.

At the same time, bringing the integration process in the northeast to a swift and uninterrupted conclusion, advancing reconstruction efforts, and ensuring an inclusive political transition should remain high on the national agenda.

There is no room for dual structures within the military, judiciary, or administration of a unified Syria.

Mr. President,

We are beginning to see the initial positive outcomes of efforts aimed at supporting Syria’s economic recovery. However, restoring critical infrastructure remains among the most urgent requirements for Syria’s stabilization and recovery.

Türkiye continues to exert intensive efforts in sectors that can generate a multiplier effect in improving conditions on the ground.

Recent disruptions in trade routes due to the situation in the Strait of Hormuz have once again highlighted the strategic importance of regional interconnectivity.

In this regard, a stable and unified Syria can serve as a vital nexus connecting the Middle East, Türkiye, and Europe through trade, transportation, energy, and infrastructure networks.

With this vision, Türkiye, Syria, and Jordan recently signed an agreement between their Ministries of Transport to advance road and railway connectivity.

Economic recovery and a return to normalcy in Syria cannot be achieved without ensuring security in daily life.

In this regard, war remnants remain a pressing concern requiring our sustained attention. The current absence of large-scale violence creates an opportunity to work more coherently to address the challenges posed by mines, unexploded ordnance, and chemical weapons remnants.

At the same time, the DAESH threat must continue to be monitored closely, particularly given the risk that the group may seek to exploit regional instability to regroup and re-emerge. The Syrian Government continues to strengthen its counter-terrorism capacity and deserves sustained international support in this regard also.

Mr. President,

For more than a decade, Türkiye facilitated the cross-border mechanism, which served as a critical lifeline for millions of Syrians, in close cooperation with OCHA and other UN entities. While this mechanism has now come to an end, Türkiye will continue to support humanitarian and other Syria-related activities of the UN agencies, particularly those of OCHA, in close coordination with the Syrian authorities and relevant stakeholders.

Concluding, I would like to reiterate that Türkiye will continue to stand by the Syrian people and support the Syrian Government in overcoming the challenges they face.

Thank you.