25.04.2025 Statement by Denmark at the UNSC briefing on Syria

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Thank you, Mr. President,

I thank Special Envoy Pedersen and Assistant Secretary General Msuya for their briefings.

Minister Al-Shaibani,

We welcome your participation in today’s meeting. We see it as an important signal of your commitment to engage with the international community to bring peace and security to your country.

Mr. President,

I will focus on three key areas.

After 14 years of brutal conflict, nine out of ten Syrians live in poverty and millions are suffering from food scarcity and malnutrition.

Improvements in the humanitarian situation are not only moral imperatives. They represent the foundation for lasting stability in Syria. We cannot expect a nation to make political progress if the people are hungry, displaced or deprived of basic services.

On the ground, that means providing a reliable energy supply – especially electricity - while at the same time securing access to water and food.

Denmark’s support spans many years.  Since the beginning of the conflict, we have provided some 900 million dollars to Syria and neighbouring countries.

Today, that commitment remains steadfast. At the recent Brussels conference, Denmark pledged almost 100 million dollars in support for Syria and its neighbouring countries..

Syria’s needs remain immense, commensurate with the scale of its devastation. We urge the international community to remain engaged.

Second, Mr. President,

Relief and recovery efforts must advance in tandem with improvements in security. Indeed, neglecting one inevitably undermines the other.

We all recall the violence and widespread killings of civilians that rocked Syria’s coastal region last month. Denmark strongly condemns these acts. We reiterate the need for a thorough investigation and that the perpetrators, regardless their affiliation, are held accountable.

Such internal stabilisation efforts are critical in Syria. However, we must also bear the broader security situation in mind.

In this respect, let me reaffirm Denmark’s full support for Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence.

We reiterate our full support for UNDOF and for the 1974 agreement and call for its full implementation.

We also cannot allow ISIL or Da’esh to re-emerge. Efforts within Syria and internationally should be directed to this aim.

Ultimately, when a sense of normalcy and safety begins to return, communities can begin to heal and reconcile. This can also help build the necessary confidence in the political process.

That brings me to my third point, Mr. President,

We call for a credible, inclusive, and transparent Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political transition process. One that is in line with the principles of the Resolution 2254 of this Council.

We welcome the formation of the transitional government as a step in the right direction. Equally important, is the resumption of national dialogue with civil society organisations.

The best way to ensure that all aspects of the political transition are truly robust is to make them genuinely inclusive. When everyone sees themselves in the process, when the needs and expectations of communities are heard and the diversity of Syrian society is represented, a shared future can be forged.

An ambitious, transparent plan for transitions justice is another fundamental aspect to end impunity and prevent future atrocities in Syria.

In this regard, we reiterate our full support for the work of the Independent Institution for Missing Persons, the International Impartial and Independent Mechanism, and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry to assist the transitional government in this process.

We call on the Syrian transitional government to continue to engage meaningfully with the UN and to give input to the ongoing strategic assessment for the UN’s future presence in Syria.

Mr. President, in closing,

The Syrian transitional government has an enormous opportunity to transform the country for the better. But it cannot do it alone.

Denmark will continue its strong support for Syria and the Syrian people. We look forward to working closely with Syria, this Council and the broader international community to this end.

Thank you.