Al-Miqdad before the UN General Assembly: Syria calls for building a multipolar world order

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Dr. Faisal Al-Miqdad, stressed the need to build a new multipolar world order in which everyone works under the umbrella of the principles and objectives of the United Nations Charter. 

Al-Miqdad said in Syria’s speech on September 26th before the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly: “We meet in light of sensitive and dangerous situations at the international level, where wars, conflicts and threats to international peace and security increase, terrorism and chaos spread, the global economy and food security are at risk, and climate change is accelerating.” 

Al-Miqdad added: These countries waged wars and occupied the lands of others under the pretext of propagating democracy and protecting human rights), but in reality, they destroyed countries and killed many innocent people .

Al-Miqdad pointed out that, as Syria is aware of this miserable reality.It calls for taking the right decision at this defining and delicate moment in history, in a way that guarantees a better present and future for us and for upcoming generations. 

Al-Miqdad noted that while we had hoped to achieve peace and stability in our region, we witnessed more Israeli practices that pushed the region to unprecedented levels of tension and instability by committing massacres, escalating its military aggression on Palestinian lands, and continuing its policies of settlement, Judaization, siege, arbitrary arrest and forced displacement and racial discrimination. 

Al-Miqdad reiterated Syria’s stand by the brotherly Palestinian people in their struggle to liberate their occupied lands and establish their independent and sovereign state on all of their land, with Jerusalem as its capital. He referred to the struggle to guarantee the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland, in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions. 

Al-Miqdad indicated that, since its occupation of the Syrian Golan in 1967, Israel has continued to commit the most heinous and systematic forms of gross and systematic violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, including the expansion of settlements, changing the demographic situation and attempts to forcibly impose “Israeli citizenship and ownership documents” on the people of the Golan, as well as looting the resources of the Golan. 

The minister shed light on Israel’s support for terrorist organizations, led by Al-Nusra Front, which is affiliated to Al-Qaeda and ISIS, and its systematic and deliberate repeated attacks on Syrian territory, including civilian ports and airports. 

Al-Miqdad said that the continuation of support or silence about such Israeli practices by some countries that pose as protectors of international humanitarian law and human rights law makes them complicit in these crimes and shows the extent of the double standards they practice. 

Al-Miqdad said: “The occupied Syrian Golan is in the heart of every Syrian, and our right to fully restore it up to the June 4, 1967 line is fixed, not subject to bargaining or pressure, and does not fall into a statute of limitations. This right is guaranteed by international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, especially Security Council Resolution No. 497 of 1981.” 

Al-Miqdad pointed out that any illegal military presence on Syrian territory violates international law and the Charter of the United Nations and must end immediately and unconditionally. He underlined the urgency of fighting terrorism in its various forms and eliminating it which can only be done in cooperation and coordination with the Syrian state. 

Al-Miqdad indicated that, since the beginning of the crisis in 2011, Syria has adopted the option of local national settlements and reconciliations as a way to return the situation to normal in various parts of the country and strengthen national unity and cohesion of the Syrian society.

Al-Miqdad said that 21 general amnesty decrees were issued, the latest of which was Legislative Decree No. 7 of 2022 which was issued by President Bashar al-Assad and included a general amnesty for terrorist crimes committed by Syrians, except for those crimes that led to the death of a human being. 

Al-Miqdad clarified that despite all the difficult circumstances that Syria went through, it was keen to carry out its constitutional entitlements on time, as it witnessed a few days ago democratic elections for local councils, which reflects the expansion of democratic popular participation, the strengthening of decentralization and the deepening of local administration in every village, city, and governorate. 

Al-Miqdad pointed out that in parallel, Syria has dealt positively with the efforts and initiatives that were presented within the framework of the political track, and in this regard, it has renewed its support for the meetings held in the Astana format. It also welcomes the results of the Tehran summit held on July 19th, in which the commitment was emphasized with Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity. 

Al-Miqdad stressed the need for the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General to Syria to maintain his role as a facilitator of the Syrian-Syrian dialogue under the ownership and leadership of Syria. 

He pointed out that, before the start of the terrorist war that was launched against it, Syria was one of the most secure, stable and prosperous countries in the world. It was on its way to self-sufficiency and providing the basic requirements of life for its people whether in the educational, health, service or living sectors, but this unjust war changed this situation. Indeed, we witnessed a significant humanitarian crisis as a result of terrorism, the unilateral coercive measures imposed by Western countries and the theft of the wealth of the Syrian people. 

Al-Miqdad said: “As an example, the estimated value of direct and indirect losses incurred by the oil, gas and mineral wealth sector only since 2011 amounted to 107 billion dollars.”

Al-Miqdad highlighted the Syrian state’s tremendous efforts to improve the humanitarian situation on the ground, rebuild what was destroyed by terrorism and facilitate the return of refugees. He expressed Syria’s keenness to provide all facilities to the United Nations to improve and enhance the delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need and to implement early recovery projects stipulated in Security Council Resolution 2642. 

Al-Miqdad reiterated Syria’s position on the Russian special military operation in Ukraine, and its support for Russia’s right to defend itself and protect its national security in response to aggressive Western policies. 

Al-Miqdad reiterated Syria’s full support for Iran’s position and constructive and responsible approach in dealing with the issue of returning to the nuclear agreement, from which the United States unilaterally and illegally withdrew, and the need for Washington and its Western allies to meet the legitimate Iranian demands. 

Al-Miqdad indicated that Syria continues to support the (one China) principle and China’s stances in the face of attempts of external interference in its internal affairs in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang. It stresses China’s inalienable right to take whatever measures and steps it decides to defend its sovereignty. 

Al-Miqdad expressed Syria’s condemnation of the economic blockade imposed on Cuba for decades, including the extension of the so-called “Trade with the Enemy Act” by the US administration and its call to stop the military movements and exercises conducted by the United States on the Korean Peninsula, which lead to an escalation of tension in the region.

Al-Miqdad reiterated Syria’s call for the necessity of lifting all forms of unilateral coercive measures imposed by Western countries on it and on Russia, Iran, Belarus, Venezuela, DPRK, Nicaragua, Zimbabwe and Eritrea, which constitute economic terrorism no less brutal and dangerous than armed terrorism. 

Al-Miqdad concluded that the world has gone through exceptional circumstances during the past years by all standards and has been exposed to serious political, security, economic, health, climatic and food challenges. Today it is facing unprecedented tension and escalation at the international level, threatening more dangers and throwing the world into the unknown, if action is not taken quickly to confront these challenges. 

 

 

O. al-Mohammad / Inas Abdulkareem