Ambassador Ala: Unilateral coercive measures and foreign occupation impede the expansion of the mine and explosive ordnance removal missions in Syria

Geneva (ST): Syria’s permanent representative to the United Nations Office and International Organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Hossam El Din Ala, affirmed that fulfilling the humanitarian goals envisaged by the Landmine Convention requires respect for the basic pillars on which the Convention was based, foremost among which are national ownership of demining operations, strengthening international assistance and cooperation, and providing financial resources and technology away from political conditionality, once again calling for the immediate and unconditional lifting of Western unilateral coercive measures, and support for Syria’s efforts to cleanse its entire territory from the evils of mines, terrorism and foreign occupation.

In a statement delivered to the twentieth meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines held at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva, Ambassador Ala explained that the participation of the Syrian Arab Republic in this meeting confirms the priority it attaches to saving the lives of its citizens from the dangers of mines and explosive ordnance left by armed terrorist groups in the areas of their former control during the terrorist war waged by these groups on Syria, and its keenness to purify those areas to launch the economic and developmental life cycle and to enable the displaced to return safely to their areas and lands and to restore their livelihoods.

Ambassador Ala referred to the role of the Syrian Arab Army in implementing plans to clear areas contaminated with mines with the available capabilities and its contribution to removing more than 50,000 explosive devices, 84,000 unexploded shells and 45,000 various mines, and clearing more than 55,000 hectares of mines and ammunition, in parallel with continuing to probe reconnaissance of areas contaminated with mines in preparation for its clearance.

At the conclusion of his speech, Ambassador Ala warned of the dangers of mines planted by the Israeli occupation between homes and around fields and villages in the occupied Syrian Golan on the lives of Syrian citizens there and their sources of livelihood.

K.Q.