New York, SANA- Foreign and Expatriates Minister, Mr. Asaad al-Shaibani, stressed the need to immediately lift sanctions imposed on Syria because of the crimes of the ousted regime, as these sanctions would increase the suffering of Syrians, exacerbate the economic crisis, and hinder the ability to build the foundations necessary for achieving lasting peace.
“The grievances that erupted into massive nationwide protests in 2011 were not born of the moment, but rather the product of decades of injustice and oppression, including the atrocities committed in the 1980s, which were never confronted or addressed,” al-Shaibani said in a speech before the UN General Assembly.
The Minister added that the failure to address past crimes, both domestically and internationally, allowed the seeds of conflict to take root and grow, ultimately leading to 14 years of brutal repression and war.
Al-Shaibani emphasized Syria’s full commitment to transitional justice, not only to hold accountable past mistakes and sins, but also to build a governance system that prevents future conflicts before they begin, and to achieve this major goal, a transitional justice body and a special body will be established to examine the fate of hundreds of thousands of missing persons, in close coordination with the international mechanisms established by the General Assembly to address this urgent issue.
The Minister said that the sanctions imposed on Syria under the former ousted regime weaken the country’s ability to prevent future conflicts and hinder its ability to build the foundations necessary for achieving lasting peace, as they were imposed to weaken the Assad regime, but after its fall, their continuation has become a mere obstacle to Syria’s economic recovery and a hindrance to the new government’s work.
“When remnants of the sectarian Assad regime sparked violence in the coast, the government acted quickly, forming civil peace committees and investigation teams, all of this was recognized by the Human Rights Council in a unanimous resolution last month, the government is doing all it can to prevent conflict, but without real economic and political support to prevent the escalation of new tensions, its efforts remain at risk of collapse due to factors beyond its control,” Foreign Minister added.
Minister Al-Shaibani went on to say that there is another threat to Syria’s stability, represented by the continued aggression and attacks that violate its sovereignty. the new Syria will not be a source of instability for any party in the region, however, the repeated Israeli military attacks on its territory constitute a direct threat to regional security, including air strikes and border infiltrations, all of which represent a flagrant violation of international law and threaten stability not only in Syria but in the entire region, therefore, Syria calls on the General Assembly to address this threat before it leads to further destabilization in the long term.
“Syria’s future should not be defined by the tragedies of the past, but rather by reconciliation, stability, and a firm commitment to the non-return of armed conflict to its territory or any other, Syria cannot lead this phase alone, preventing conflict requires international support, comprehensive cooperation, and a shared belief that a stable Syria serves the interests of all, let us work together to write the next chapter for Syria, a chapter of peace, prosperity, and stability, a chapter in which there is no return to war,” Al-shaibani concluded.
Mazen Eyon
