As delivered
Statement by H.E. Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes, Permanent Representative of Latvia to the United Nations, at the UN Security Council Briefing on Syria
New York, 22 April 2026
Thank you, Mme. President,
Let me thank Deputy Special Envoy for Syria, Mr Claudio Cordone, USG for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr Tom Fletcher, and SRSG for Children and Armed Conflict, Ms Vanessa Frazier, for their briefings and outline of encouraging cooperation perspectives between the UN and Syria.
Mme. President,
Against the backdrop of the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, Syria is making every effort to insulate itself from the destabilising effects of the wider regional conflict. We acknowledge Syria’s cross‑border coordination with Lebanon and Iraq to address the looming security risks, including those by Hezbollah. We also recognize the political restraint that Syria has demonstrated despite continued IDF incursions and violations of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement in the Syrian Golan. We reiterate our firm commitment to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic. And we urge Israel and Syria to continue to engage in ongoing mediation efforts to reach mutually acceptable security arrangements.
The transitional government’s commitment to pursue stabilisation and reconstruction creates conducive conditions for Syria's political and economic development. However, amid ongoing regional turmoil, Syria needs sustained and increased international support. Successful integration of the institutions of North‑East Syria into national government structures, women’s meaningful participation in decision-making and broader political representation of ethnic and religious communities, including in the People’s Assembly, are key elements for the cohesion of the diverse Syrian society.
A comprehensive, inclusive, and survivor-centered approach to transitional justice is essential to reconciliation. We welcome the recent report of the IIIM and note the unprecedented level of cooperation between the Mechanism and Syria’s authorities over the past year. We encourage deepening this engagement by endorsing a jointly agreed set of priorities and supporting the Mechanism's ongoing work on the ground.
Mme. President,
We echo USG Fletcher’s assessment that there is a genuine potential for Syria to move towards stability and recovery, while emphasizing that humanitarian needs remain significant and risks persist. We welcome the strengthened cooperation between the Syrian authorities and the United Nations, including OCHA, which has enabled more effective humanitarian aid delivery, and underscore the importance of sustaining and expanding these efforts. We stress the urgent need to address the threat posed by landmines and explosive remnants of war, left behind by the Assad regime, which continue to hinder recovery and endanger civilian lives, particularly children.
After all, an entire generation of Syrians has grown up in a war-torn country. We are therefore encouraged by SRSG Frazier’s assessment that the new Syrian authorities are determined to put the Children and Armed Conflict agenda at the core of their endeavours. We believe that the UN expertise and tools will be instrumental in this regard. We urge the alignment of Syria's national legislation with international standards to ensure the protection and rights of children during criminal proceedings, including raising the age of criminal liability and ensuring unimpeded humanitarian access to juvenile detention facilities. We also call for continued and increased efforts to protect children from recruitment and use by armed forces and groups, as well as to provide community-based reintegration and appropriate care for children formerly associated with such groups. When we, as the Council, speak out for a peaceful and prosperous future for Syria, we must underline that protecting and safeguarding the generation that is growing up for that future is indispensable.
And in conclusion, I would just like to reaffirm Latvia's solidarity with the Syrian people and express our continued support for building peace, stability and prosperity in Syria.
I thank you!