Damascus, Syria – Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa received UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday at the People’s Palace in Damascus, in a historic visit that marks the first time a UN Secretary-General has visited Syria since 2009. Guterres and his accompanying UN delegation arrived at Damascus International Airport earlier that morning, where they were greeted by Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani. Following his arrival, Guterres posted a message on the X platform affirming that the United Nations stands fully with Syria at this critical juncture, and urging the international community to spare no effort in supporting the Syrian people and meeting their urgent needs.
UN commitment to sovereignty and support for recovery pathways
The United Nations announced prior to the visit that its Secretary-General would reaffirm the UN’s unwavering commitment to supporting the Syrian government and people during this critical juncture, emphasizing the need to respect Syria’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity. UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric explained that the visit presents a genuine opportunity to learn about the hopes and challenges associated with the political transition and national recovery, and to witness firsthand the devastating impact of years of conflict. The visit’s agenda includes meetings with representatives of civil society and women’s organizations to hear from diverse groups, as well as a visit to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) to ensure the safety of UN personnel.
Syrian diplomatic opening and regional and international shifts
This historic visit is of exceptional importance as it comes just weeks after French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Damascus, the first by a European head of state since the fall of the Assad regime. These moves come at a time when the current Syrian administration is striving to rebuild its international relations and revive its battered economy after decades of isolation.
Since the new leadership assumed power, the government has been working diligently to broaden the scope of diplomatic cooperation beyond traditional allies.
These developments complement the significant step taken last year when the Syrian president participated in the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York, becoming the first Syrian president to attend the international organization’s meetings since 1967, thus paving the way for a more advanced stage of effective integration into the international system.
