The situation in the Middle East - Security Council, 9904th meeting

Situation in Syria ‘extremely fragile’, UN Envoy tells Security Council, stressing rule of law, new Social contract, fair elections are yet to materialize.

• Categories: Meetings & Events / Security Council
• Video Length: 02:23:54
• Production Date: 5 February 2025
• Asset Language: Arabic; English; French; Russian; Spanish; Chinese; Original
• Personal Subject: GEIR PEDERSEN; JOYCE MSUYA
• Corporate Name: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION - WHO; UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGUEES - UNHCR; WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME - WFP; UNITED NATIONS DISENGAGEMENT OBSERVER FORCE - UNDOF
• Subject Topical: MIDDLE EAST SITUATION; SYRIA SITUATION; RULE OF LAW; ELECTIONS; FOOD SECURITY; FINANCING; HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE; POLITICAL CONDITIONS; SANCTIONS; ECONOMIC CONDITIONS; POST-CONFLICT RECONSTRUCTION; AID PROGRAMMES; REFUGEES; DISPLACED PERSONS; INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS; VIOLENCE; ACCOUNTABILITY; ETHNIC AND RACIAL GROUPS; TERRORISM; CONSTITUTIONS; EMERGENCY RELIEF
• Geographic Subject: MIDDLE EAST; SYRIA; ISRAEL
• MAMS Id: 3363470
• Parent Id: 3363660

Description

Four and a half months since the fall of the Assad regime, the situation in Syria is “extremely fragile”, the United Nations top official for the country warned the Security Council today. Plans for establishing rule of law, a new social contract, and free and fair elections “remain to be seen”. “

The vital ingredients to address this fragility are clear: genuine political inclusion so that all Syrians can participate meaningfully in shaping the country’s political future, along with countering extremism and terrorism — and real support from the international community to give this transition a chance,” UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen told the 15-member Council. 

He emphasized that Syria’s political transition has reached a “a truly critical juncture”. While the legal vacuum that existed before the Constitutional Declaration has been partially filled, major limitations persist. Syria has moved beyond a caretaker government to a new, more diverse cabinet — but among its 22 members, only 1 is a woman. 

Mr. Pedersen noted that many Syrians are still traumatized by the coastal violence in March “sparked by a violent challenge to state authority”. The Alawite community, in particular, shared harrowing accounts of violations. “I talked with [Syria’s Interim President] Al-Sharaa at length about this,” he said, urging that those responsible be brought to justice. 

• Briefer: Mr. Geir Pedersen, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria 
• Briefer: Ms. Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator 
• Statements: All Council members, with Algeria speaking on behalf of: Algeria, Guyana, Sierra Leone, Somalia 
• Statement: His Excellency Asaad Hasan Al-Shaibani, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Syrian Arab Republic 
• Statement: Libya (on behalf of: Arab Group) 
• Statements: Islamic Republic of Iran, Türkiye  

Related Sites and Documents

UN Press Coverage

S/PV.9904