Damascus, Syria – In a significant diplomatic move with profound political and humanitarian implications, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, arrived in Syria on an official visit, the first of its kind since before the war that the country witnessed in 2011. Guterres and his accompanying UN delegation were received upon their arrival at Damascus International Airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Asaad Al-Shaibani, where an official reception ceremony was held that reflected the importance of this stop in the course of cooperation relations between Damascus and the international organization.
Significance of the timing and objectives of the official visit
In a related development, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric confirmed that this historic visit marks António Guterres’ first trip to Syria as Secretary-General of the United Nations. This visit is considered pivotal as it is the first by a UN Secretary-General to the Syrian capital, Damascus, since Ban Ki-moon’s visit in 2009, while Guterres has held his current position since assuming leadership in 2017.
Dujarric explained that during his visit to Syria, the Secretary-General will reaffirm the United Nations’ unwavering commitment to supporting the Syrian government and people at this critical juncture in the country’s history. He will also emphasize the fundamental principles of international law and the importance of respecting Syria’s sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and political independence.
Field meetings with civil society and women’s organizations
The UN spokesperson added that Guterres’ tour will provide a real and direct opportunity to closely examine the great hopes and challenges associated with the political transition and national recovery paths, in addition to witnessing firsthand the grave humanitarian consequences of the long years of conflict.
In his commitment to listening to all local partners, the Secretary-General is scheduled to hold extensive meetings during which he will listen directly to representatives of Syrian civil society, women’s organizations, and various segments and groups of society, with the aim of forming a comprehensive vision of the urgent needs on the ground.
Review the tasks of peacekeeping forces and reaffirm the role of the United Nations
At the conclusion of his announced agenda, Dujarric stated that the Secretary-General intends to visit the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) operating in the region during his field visit, to observe the progress of operations and ensure the safety of the UN peacekeepers tasked with maintaining stability in the border area. This visit comes amidst widespread regional and international anticipation, given its potential to bolster diplomatic and humanitarian efforts and open new avenues for joint cooperation, thus serving the interests of stability and development throughout the region.
