UN Human Rights Council adopts results of the Comprehensive Periodic Review of Human Rights in Syria
The UN Human Rights Council, during its 50th ordinary session currently held in Geneva, adopted the results of the Comprehensive Periodic Review of Human Rights situation in Syria. The delegations welcomed the steps taken by Syria as regards to enhancing and protecting human rights in different fields, despite the extraordinary circumstances and challenges facing the country.
Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other UN Organizations in Geneva Hussam Eddin Ala said in a statement that Syria has accepted most of the recommendations presented during the national report’s review session last January after studying them. He affirmed Syria’s keenness on cooperation with the comprehensive periodic review mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council, as it is the most neutral mechanism that enables the council to conduct a constructive interactive dialogue for consolidating and respecting human rights in all member countries without discrimination and based on equality.
He pointed out that Syria will work hard to implement the recommendations according to available capabilities and within the framework of its national priorities in a way that enables the Syrian citizens to enjoy human rights, including their right to development and securing their basic needs in the light of the repercussions of the terrorist war and the western coercive measures imposed on the country.
Ala affirmed that Syria is determined to clean its land from the remnants of terrorism in order to protect its citizens and preserve its territorial integrity.
He reiterated that fighting terrorism necessitates international cooperation that respects countries’ sovereignty and their judicial national mandate. It also necessitates implementing the UN resolutions which call on countries to dry up sources of terrorism funding, control the borders and stop training and arming terrorists for political purposes.
The Syrian diplomat clarified that Syria is dealing with the repercussions of the terrorist war through encouraging settlement processes and national reconciliations which are currently achieving major successes in different provinces.
Ala noted Syria’s cooperation with international humanitarian agencies within the framework of its humanitarian response and stressed its commitment to delivering humanitarian aid to all part of the Syrian territory. He criticized western calls for the continuity of delivering aid through illegal crossings controlled by terrorist organizations.
Ala also noted the measures taken by the Syrian government to facilitate the return of the displaced Syrians and the refugees to their areas and residence places in implementation of the results of the conferences on the return of refugee and their follow up meetings.
He said that Syria has spared no effort to create suitable circumstances for the refugees’ return despite the politicization of this file by some countries and international parties.
Ala reiterated the importance of international support for Syria’s efforts to counter-terrorism and end the illegal military presence of the Turkish and US occupation forces in the country and to reestablish the state’s authority on the entire Syrian territory. He also urged immediate lifting of the unilateral coercive measures imposed on the Syrian people so that the country can move from the relief stage to recovery and development.
He affirmed Syria’s commitment to finding political solution to the crisis based on national dialogue and on the Syrian leadership of a political process facilitated by the United Nations away from foreign interference and without preconditions.
Hamda Mustafa