Syria’s new ‘flame of hope’ must not be extinguished: Guterres
19 December 2024, New York – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for urgent support to build on the “new flame of hope” for peace in Syria sparked by the recent release of detainees and the return of some refugees.
“We must not let this flame be extinguished,” said Mr. Guterres in a statement issued by his Spokesperson. “We must seize this moment to make progress towards a just and lasting peace for all Syrians.”
The Secretary-General welcomed the release on 17 December of 27 detainees by the Syrian Government, as well as the return of 17 families from Lebanon to their homes in Syria.
“These are positive steps that could help to build trust and confidence between the parties,” said Mr. Guterres.
The Secretary-General urged all parties to the conflict to continue to release detainees and to facilitate the safe and voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons.
He also encouraged the parties to engage in good faith in the upcoming round of UN-facilitated peace talks in Geneva, scheduled for 29 January 2025.
“These talks provide an important opportunity to make progress towards a political solution to the conflict,” said Mr. Guterres. “I urge all parties to come to the table with a constructive and flexible attitude.”
The Secretary-General stressed that the Syrian people have suffered too much for too long.
“They deserve a chance to live in peace and dignity,” he said. “I call on all those with influence to support the efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in Syria.”
Background:
The Syrian conflict began in March 2011 with protests against the government of President Bashar al-Assad. The protests were met with a violent crackdown by the government, which led to an armed uprising and a civil war.
The conflict has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions more. It has also created a humanitarian crisis, with millions of people in need of food, water, and shelter.
The UN has been working to facilitate a political solution to the conflict since 2012. The UN-facilitated peace talks have been held in Geneva since 2016.
Additional Information:
- UN Resolution 2254: www.un.org/press/en/2015/sc11925.doc.htm
- UN Special Envoy for Syria: www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/personnel/staffan-de-mistura
- UN humanitarian response in Syria: www.un.org/syria/en/humanitarian-response
Contact:
Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Mr. Stéphane Dujarric Office: +1 917 367 3633 Mobile: +1 917 367 3633 Email: dujarric@un.org
Syria’s new ‘flame of hope’ must not be extinguished: Guterres
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