Syria: Briefing and Consultations : What’s In Blue : Security Council Report

Tomorrow morning (21 August), the Security Council will maintain its month-to-month open briefing on the political and humanitarian conditions in Syria. UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher are anticipated to temporary. Closed consultations are scheduled to observe the open briefing.

Speakers on the assembly might observe that latest weeks have demonstrated Syria’s fragility and its vulnerability to escalations of violence. The clashes that unfolded in July in Suweida (a Druze majority governorate in southern Syria) between Bedouin tribal fighters and Druze militias, and Israel’s subsequent strikes throughout Syria—ostensibly geared toward supporting the Druze group—prompted the Security Council to undertake a presidential statement on 10 August. Among different issues, the presidential assertion expressed concern in regards to the scenario in Suweida and condemned assaults in opposition to civilians. (For extra info, see our 9 August What’s In Blue story.)

A ceasefire in Suweida, introduced by the Syrian interim authorities on 19 July, has largely continued to carry, regardless of a number of cases of sporadic clashes within the area. Secessionist and anti-government sentiment amongst Druze communities has apparently elevated since July, as protests calling for independence have reportedly taken place in Suweida metropolis.

Tomorrow, Pedersen is prone to replace Council members on the tensions in Suweida following the July ceasefire, and his engagement with the Syrian interim authorities and native Druze authorities to de-escalate the scenario. The US reportedly brokered a gathering yesterday (19 August) between Israeli officers and Syrian international minister Asaad al-Shaibani to additional scale back tensions between the 2 international locations. Council members are prone to reiterate key messages from the ten August presidential assertion, reminiscent of calling on the events to make sure the safety of civilians. They may additionally urge the perimeters to decide to discussions that promote calm and to undertake confidence-building measures.

Some Council members may additionally reiterate considerations that Israel’s latest army actions in Syria are detrimental to the nation’s stability and name on Israel to respect Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity. Some members may additionally urge Israel to totally respect the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement and to withdraw its forces from the buffer zone within the Golan established by the settlement.

Fletcher is prone to temporary on continued efforts by the UN and its humanitarian companions to ship assist to areas affected by the violence that erupted in Suweida in July. He might observe that continued insecurity and violent clashes are impeding humanitarian entry to Suweida and check with an 8 August incident during which a Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) convoy got here below direct fireplace in Daraa governorate. Local reports have additionally indicated that residents in Suweida metropolis proceed to face a scarcity of entry to important companies reminiscent of electrical energy and water. Council members are anticipated to reiterate considerations over the persisting impediments to the availability of important assist and companies. They are additionally prone to urge the events to make sure full, protected, fast, and unhindered humanitarian entry to all affected communities, in step with the Council’s name within the 10 August presidential assertion.

Tomorrow, audio system may additionally elevate considerations concerning the mounting tensions between the Syrian interim authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led group which controls most of Syria’s de facto autonomous northeastern territory. On 9 August, Syria’s state information company reported that, in response to an SDF-held convention calling for decentralisation, the interim authorities backed out of conferences scheduled to happen in Paris between the 2 events, demonstrating that challenges stay within the implementation of the 10 March agreement to combine the SDF and its related civil and army constructions into Syria’s state establishments. Furthermore, on 12 August, a authorities soldier was reportedly killed by SDF forces in Aleppo governorate, and on 14 August, clashes erupted between interim authorities forces and the SDF in Deir ez-Zor governorate. On 17 August, the Syrian interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, said that he hoped for a peaceable decision to the difficulty inside “a few months”, via the assist of the US and Türkiye.

Pedersen and Council members are prone to name on the events to keep away from any additional escalation and to give attention to diplomatic efforts to make sure the implementation of the ten March settlement. Some audio system might underscore the significance of disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration (DDR) efforts for Syria’s future stability and the necessity for the interim authorities to make sure that transitional justice processes accompany such efforts.

Council members are anticipated to induce the Syrian interim authorities to pursue accountability measures for recurring cases of sectarian violence, together with for the concentrating on of civilians in Suweida and of Alawite communities within the coastal areas of Latakia and Tartous earlier in March. In this regard, some members might check with an 11 August report printed by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry (COI) on Syria, which stated that round 1,400 individuals, “predominantly civilians”, had been killed within the coastal violence. The report concludes that violence was perpetrated by the interim authorities’s forces and people working alongside them, in addition to by “pro-former government fighters”, and that a number of violations possible quantity to conflict crimes. Council members are prone to name on Damascus to make sure that all perpetrators are delivered to justice, no matter their affiliation, and spotlight the significance of inclusive and clear justice efforts for reaching a profitable political transition and sustainable peace in Syria.

Some members may additionally voice concern over reviews of focused abductions of girls in Syria. In a 23 July statement, unbiased human rights specialists appointed by the UN Human Rights Council voiced grave alarm over the kidnapping, disappearance, and abuse of Alawite ladies and women since February and highlighted patterns of gender-based violence, pressured baby marriage and a “glaring lack of effective response” by the Syrian interim authorities. These Council members might urge Damascus to conduct well timed and neutral investigations into these violations, seek for any lacking individuals, and guarantee justice and assist for survivors.

Another matter which is prone to be raised by a number of audio system tomorrow is Syria’s political transition course of. Between 15 and 20 September, the nation is predicted to carry an election for its People’s Assembly—the primary parliamentary elections to be held following the ouster of former president Bashar al-Assad. The course of will reportedly contain the institution of an electoral faculty in every of Syria’s governorates to elect two thirds of the 210 seats out there. The remaining third will probably be immediately appointed by the interim president. Pedersen and Council members are prone to underscore the necessity to make sure that the method is totally clear and consultant of all parts of Syrian society.

Some audio system might observe that the elections are a chance for the interim authorities to display dedication to a real and inclusive transition. They may additionally spotlight that the political course of ought to align with the important thing ideas of decision 2254 of 18 December 2015, which centered on a political answer to the Syrian disaster, and be a part of a complete course of that entails measures to make sure accountability, foster nationwide unity, bolster safety, and lay the groundwork for lasting peace.

Tags: Insights on the Middle East, Syria