The situation in the Middle East - Security Council, 9999th meeting

Syria needs global support to address ‘massive legacy of war, autocracy’, Special Envoy tells Security Council, as he announces resignation.

• Categories: Meetings & Events / Security Council
• Video Length: 02:30:22
• Production Date: 18 September 2025
• Asset Language: Arabic; English; French; Russian; Spanish; Chinese; Original
• Personal Subject: GEIR PEDERSEN; THOMAS FLETCHER
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - OCHA
• Subject Topical: MIDDLE EAST SITUATION; PEACE AND SECURITY; WOMEN; SYRIA SITUATION; WAR; CIVIL SOCIETY; POLITICAL CONDITIONS; RECONSTRUCTION; RESIGNATION; HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCIES; SPECIAL ENVOYS AND REPRESENTATIVES
• Geographic Subject: MIDDLE EAST; SYRIA
• MAMS Id: 3448617
• Parent Id: 3447969
• Alternate Title: MTG SC 9999 MIDDLE EAST SYRIA 18 SEP 2025 AM

Description

Syrian authorities must prioritize genuine political reforms and build a Government that serves all Syrians, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today, as he called on the international community to provide sanctions relief, support domestic reforms and halt foreign interventions to ensure the country’s successful transition.

“The interim authorities in Damascus are grappling with a massive legacy of war and autocracy,” underscored Geir O. Pedersen, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, urging “material assistance on a scale commensurate with its needs”. He stated that the country’s new interim authorities have inherited not just a war-torn landscape, but also a fractured society and a crippled economy.

Political stability is also needed, he underscored, noting that Syria is currently without a legislature. He urged the establishment of a credible interim legislative body and called for the upcoming indirect parliamentary elections to follow “realistic timelines” and to be transparent and inclusive.

• Briefer: Mr. Geir Pedersen, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria
• Briefer: Mr. Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator
• Briefer: Ms. Majd Chourbaji, Civil society representative
• Statements: All Council members, with Algeria speaking on behalf of: Algeria, Guyana, Sierra Leone, Somalia
• Statements: Syrian Arab Republic, Islamic Republic of Iran
• Statement: Iraq (on behalf of: League of Arab States)
• Statement: Türkiye
• Further statement: Mr. Geir Pedersen, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria
• Further statement: Algeria
• Further statement: Syrian Arab Republic

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