Final statement of the meeting of the Arab Liaison Committee on Syria: Intensifying efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people

Cairo (ST): The meeting of the Arab Liaison Committee on Syria, with the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faisal Al-Mikdad, discussed the developments of the situation in Syria, and the contacts conducted by the ministers, members of the Liaison Committee, as well as the Syrian government with the United Nations and friendly countries, within the framework of efforts for a comprehensive settlement of the crisis in Syria, in line with the relevant international references.

The final statement of the meeting held in Cairo said that the participants stressed the need to take practical and effective steps to gradually resolve the crisis in Syria, in a way that preserves Syria’s unity, cohesion and sovereignty, meets the aspirations of its people, rids it of terrorism, and contributes to strengthening the appropriate conditions for the voluntary and safe return of refugees as a humanitarian priority.

The statement indicated that in the context of discussing the full implementation of the results of the Amman Declaration issued on May 1, 2023, the participants affirmed that the only solution to the crisis in Syria is the political solution.

The statement said: Emphasizing the need to intensify efforts to alleviate the human suffering of the Syrian people, and within the framework of the responsibility of the international community to fulfill its obligations in this regard, the participants welcomed the announcement by the United Nations and the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic to reach an agreement on the 7th of August 2023 regarding the delivery of humanitarian aid from (Bab Al-Hawa) crossing for a period of six months. The participants also welcomed the Syrian government’s decision to extend the opening of the (Bab Al-Salama) and (Al-Rai) crossings to humanitarian aid until the 13th of November.

The statement added: The members of the Liaison Committee expressed their aspiration for the continuation of aid and its delivery to those in need, and encouraged the Syrian government to consider extending the use of these crossings for other periods in order to achieve the interests of the Syrian people.

The statement indicated that the Liaison Committee and the Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates stressed the need to address the refugee crisis with all its consequences for the Syrian people and the countries hosting them, and the importance of strengthening cooperation between the Syrian government and the countries hosting refugees to organize and facilitate their voluntary and safe return, and end their suffering in coordination with the relevant United Nations bodies, foremost of which The High Commissioner for Refugees, in accordance with the procedures and determinants in force in this regard, and considering it a priority that must be worked on.

The statement said: “The participants affirmed the necessity of intensifying work with the international community and the United Nations to accelerate the implementation of early recovery projects and expand the scope of humanitarian activities while building the necessary foundations for recovery.”

The statement went on to say: In this connection, the Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faisal Al-Mikdad explained the procedures and facilities taken by Syria, and referred to the existing cooperation and dialogue with the High Commissioner for Refugees, highlighting the facilities provided by the Syrian government to the UNHCR to carry out its work in Syria, and that it continues to take and intensify these measures, including facilitating the opening of more offices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the areas of refugee return, and announce periodically the measures it is taking to facilitate the return of refugees, including within the framework of their inclusion in presidential amnesty decrees.

The statement indicated that Al-Mikdad stressed the need to regularly announce data on the numbers of returning refugees, and the Syrian government’s keenness to continue constructive engagement with the UNHCR on issues of refugee return, and to continue the work between Syria and Jordan as indicated in the Amman statement and in coordination with United Nations bodies and to achieve the return of thousands of refugees from Jordan.

The statement pointed out that the participants welcomed the holding of the first meeting of the Jordanian-Syrian joint security committee to control borders and combat drug production and smuggling in July 2023. The participants also welcomed the joint cooperation between the governments of Iraq and Syria in the field of drug control through the exchange of information, which resulted in the dismantling of an international smuggling network that was based to smuggle drugs in the countries of the region during the month of August 2023, as well as to prepare for the conclusion of a memorandum of understanding between the two countries in this regard.

According to the statement, the participants expressed their aspiration for the continuation and intensification of joint cooperation between Syria and the countries of the region, in a way that serves efforts to combat drug production and smuggling in the region in order to end this growing danger.

The members of the Arab Ministerial Liaison Committee underlined the need to support efforts to combat terrorism in Syria and called for intensified cooperation between the Syrian government, the concerned countries and the United Nations in this regard. The members also called on the international community to play an effective role in eliminating this menace in all its forms and manifestations, and to eradicate all its sources. They also urged supporting Syria and its institutions’ efforts to combat terrorism, preserve the country’s sovereignty and security, end the presence of armed terrorist groups on Syrian territory and of all illegal foreign forces, in accordance with the provisions of international law and the UN Charter, and preserve the security of Syria and the region.

K.Q.