UN Security Council’s session on developments in Syria

The Security Council on Tuesday held a session in which delegates highlighted their stances on developments in Syria.

The UK Security Council delegate expressed her concern about the statements of the Israeli “Defense” Minister, Israel Katz, in which he said that the presence of Israel in the disengagement area and the Golan Heights will continue for a long time.

She stressed that the continuation of the occupation cannot be justified, affirming the need for Israel to make clear time schedules to withdraw from the Golan, in line with international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.

France representative of the Security Council said: We call on Israel to withdraw from the disengagement zone and respect the sovereignty and its territorial integrity of Syria.

The acting US delegat at the Security Council said: “We call on the interim Syrian authorities and the Lebanon government to cooperate and prevent any clashes.

She added: Syria and Lebanon must cooperate in order to prevent the return of the terrorists, supported by Iran, to Syria.

Deputy representative of Russia at the Security Council said: We asked “Israel” to withdraw from the disengagement zone and the areas it controlled in Syria

China’s delegate at the Security Council condemned the Israeli raids on Syria, stressing that the Israeli forces should withdraw from Syrian territories without delay.

UN Undersecretary for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher said that 16 million people in Syria need our help now, and this requires increasing efforts to mitigate sanctions, protect civilians and encourage reconstruction of Syria.

He added: The Syrian people want to rebuild their country and live peacefully.

For his part, Jordan’s delegate said on behalf of the Arab group at the Security Council: “the Syrian people should be supported in reconstructing their country and in completing a political process that includes everyone. We demand the lifting of economic sanctions on Syria as soon as possible to attain peace and prosperity.”

He called for creating suitable environment for the return of refugees voluntarily and for supporting the host countries until the refugees’ return to their homeland is complete.

“We condemn the Israeli attacks on Syria, the last of which was the incursion that occurred in Daraa today, as it escalate the conflict in the region. We demand the stopping of the Israeli provocations and call for the Israeli withdrawal from all the occupied Syrian lands.

Qatar’s Representative to the United Nations said “we welcome the Syrian constitutional declaration and we hope that it will open new horizons for the transitional stage.

She added “the international community should move to stop the Israeli attacks on Syria.

Raghda Sawas