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Ambassador Dorothy Shea
Deputy Representative to the United Nations
New York, New York
January 8, 2025
AS DELIVERED
Thank you, Mr. President. I also want to express my gratitude to Special Envoy Pederson and Under-Secretary-General Fletcher for their briefings.
As stated before, the United States endorses a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254.
This endeavor should culminate in a government that is inclusive and representative, fully honoring the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Syrians, including women and Syria’s diverse populations.
The transition process and the resultant Syrian government must guarantee that any components of a lingering chemical weapons program are pinpointed, secured, and safely eradicated under international oversight.
We are heartened by the collaboration observed thus far and urge the sustained commitment of relevant parties in Syria to engage with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the United Nations, and various state and non-state collaborators to establish a plan for the total and verifiable eradication of any remaining components of a chemical weapons program.
We stress the necessity of identifying Syrian contact points to engage with the OPCW to activate this initiative and to furnish the security and safety assurances necessary for OPCW personnel to carry out their verification tasks.
It is crucial for the actors in Syria to permit access for UN agencies, other international organizations, and civil society to secure documentation, protect mass graves and detention facilities, and assist freed detainees and the relatives of those whose fates remain uncertain.
As previously noted, we were pleased to learn about the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) visit to Syria and the announcement regarding a new leader of the Independent Institution on Missing Persons (IIMP).
We encourage interim bodies to collaborate closely with these organizations and civil society allies.
Furthermore, we urge Syria’s interim bodies to discourage acts of personal vengeance and to work with the IIIM to find avenues for accountability.
Colleagues, while the United States appreciates positive communications from Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, we ultimately seek advancements in actions rather than mere rhetoric. We are looking for both action and discourse that prioritize the welfare of the Syrian populace.
Earlier this week, the United States issued General License 24, broadening authorizations for activities and transactions in Syria effective from December 8, 2024.
The General License highlights our commitment to ensuring that U.S. sanctions do not obstruct initiatives aimed at fulfilling basic human needs, such as delivering public services or humanitarian aid.
This authorization is valid for six months as the United States continues to monitor the changing circumstances on the ground.
The United States is dedicated to aiding Syrians during this crucial moment to build a new future shaped by its own people.
It is imperative that all external parties remain mindful of the necessity to uphold stability in Syria.
Syria should not serve as a stage to further other nations’ interests at the expense of the Syrian people.
Interim entities in Syria must ensure that the country does not present a threat to its neighbors, serve as a haven for terrorism, or shelter groups such as the Islamic State/Da’esh.
In the northeastern region of Syria, the security of detention facilities and displaced persons’ camps, alongside the repatriation of foreign nationals, is vital to avert the resurgence of ISIS and foster regional stability.
We are eager to assist in securing a brighter future for the Syrian populace who are in dire need of our support, empowering Syria to reclaim its rightful position both regionally and globally.
Thank you, Mr. President.
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