Statement of SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC at UNGA73

“These governments formed an illegitimate international coalition, led by the United States. The coalition destroyed the Syrian city of Raqqa completely; it destroyed infrastructure and public services in the areas it targeted; it committed massacres against civilians, including children and women, which amount to war crimes under international law.”

“The situation in Syria cannot be divorced from the battle raging between two camps on the world stage: one of the camps promotes peace, stability, and prosperity across the world, advocates dialogue and mutual understanding, respects international law, and upholds the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states. The other camp tries to create chaos in international relations and employs colonization and hegemony as tools to further its narrow interests.”

“A special committee was recently established to coordinate the return of refugees to their places of origin in Syria and to help them regain their lives. However, some western countries are spreading irrational fears among refugees; they are politicizing what should be a purely humanitarian issue, using refugees as a bargaining chip to serve their political agenda.”

The international community must also help the Palestinian people establish its own independent state, with Jerusalem as its capital, and facilitate the return of Palestine refugees to their land, pursuant to international resolutions. Any actions that undermine these rights are null and void and threaten regional peace and security.”