His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), emphasised the GCC countries' commitment to supporting Syria on all fronts, with priority given to improving the living and humanitarian conditions of the Syrian people.
He highlighted the provision of relief and developmental support to Syria to meet the basic needs of the Syrian people, facilitating the return of displaced persons and refugees to their homes, and supporting the return of political and security stability, economic recovery and development, stressing that necessary steps are to be laid out to achieve this and to mobilise humanitarian and developmental support for Syria.
This was stated during HE the Secretary General’s participation in the Riyadh meeting on Syria hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Sunday (January 12, 2025) in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. The meeting was attended by several ministers of foreign affairs from GCC, Arab and Western countries, as well as representatives of international organisations.
At the start of his speech, the HE Secretary General extended his sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for hosting this meeting, welcoming His Excellency Asaad Al Shibani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Syrian Arab Republic, and his accompanying delegation. His Excellency expressed his great pleasure at their presence at this important meeting, which reflects the joint commitment to supporting Syria and its people during this transitional and sensitive phase. He also offered his greetings and appreciation to the entire Syrian people, wishing them safety, security, stability and prosperity.
In his speech, HE the Secretary General addressed the developments in the Syrian Arab Republic, noting to the steadfast positions of the GCC countries and their continuous keenness to ensure Syria's sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence, underlining that the convening of the 46th extraordinary session of the GCC Ministerial Council on December 26, 2024, in the State of Kuwait, discussed developments in Syria and affirmed the council's fixed positions towards supporting Syria and its people.
“This includes the importance of respecting the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic, its independence, and territorial unity, rejecting foreign interventions in its internal affairs, countering terrorism and chaos, fighting extremism and incitement, respecting diversity without offending others' beliefs, and supporting all efforts to achieve a comprehensive and inclusive transitional process that fulfils the aspirations of the Syrian people for stability, development and a dignified life,” His Excellency said.
Elaborating further on this matter, HE the Secretary General stated: “It was emphasised that Syria's security and stability are fundamental pillars of regional security. The meeting welcomed steps taken to ensure civilian safety, bloodshed prevention, national reconciliation, the preservation of Syrian state institutions and resources, and the resolution for disbanding militias and armed factions, limiting arms to state control. These are considered mainstays for preserving security and stability in Syria and reinstating its regional role and international standing.”
His Excellency also explained that the meeting welcomed the UN Secretary General's call to establish a UN mission to assist and oversee Syria's transitional process, underscoring the adherence to the principles of the UN Charter, including state sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, good neighbourliness, and peaceful dispute resolution, in order to maintain regional and international peace and security.
HE the Secretary General also stated that emphasis was made during the meeting on the statement issued by the Arab Ministerial Contact Committee on Syria on December 14, 2024, in Aqaba, supporting UN efforts to help the Syrian people accomplish a political process led by Syrians, caring for refugees and displaced persons, and working on their voluntary and safe return to their homes according to international standards.
“The repeated Israeli attacks on the friendly Syrian Arab Republic were condemned, including the occupation of the buffer zone on the Syrian border, a gross violation of Syrian sovereignty and the disengagement agreement of 1974. The international community's responsibility to halt these aggressions on Syrian territories and demand Israel's withdrawal from all occupied Syrian lands were underscored. It was also reaffirmed that the Golan Heights is Syrian Arab land and the denunciation of Israeli occupation decisions to expand settlements in the occupied Golan, a severe violation of the UN Charter, principles of international law and relevant Security Council resolutions,” His Excellency said, mentioning that the meeting also stressed the lifting of sanctions against Syria, enabling it economically, along with urging all partners and concerned organisations to provide all means of support to the Syrian people.
Moreover, HE the Secretary General also noted that the GCC member states reached several decisions at the 46th extraordinary Ministerial Council meeting significantly contributing to supporting the Syrian brothers on all levels. He summarised these decisions, mentioning that the first involved tasking a GCC delegation, including His Excellency Mr Abdullah Al Yahya, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait, and the Secretary General of the GCC, to visit the Syrian Arab Republic.
He elaborated: “This delegation met with the leadership of the new Syrian administration and conveyed a message of the GCC’s support and solidarity with Syria and its people during this critical phase, affirming the content of the press statement issued by this extraordinary meeting towards Syria and its people. The second outcome of the 46th extraordinary session of the Ministerial Council is that the General Secretariat, in coordination with member countries, works on aligning GCC positions to support the Syrian brothers across several axes, including political, security, relief, economic and developmental aspects, with ongoing monitoring to achieve the desired results.”
“The third result involves the General Secretariat, in collaboration with the member countries, preparing and planning to hold an international donors' conference in coordination with the UN and the Arab League as soon as possible, rallying international efforts to support Syria's reconstruction and development phase. This conference would invite influential countries in the Syrian affair and all concerned parties to extend support and assistance to Syria in building the future the Syrian people deserve. The fourth result pertains to holding a meeting of the GCC Assistance Coordination Committee to discuss coordinating member countries' efforts in providing necessary assistance to support the Syrian people, aiming to provide needed support to alleviate the suffering of those affected, contributing to improving Syrians' living conditions, and providing assistance reflecting the GCC countries’ commitment to their responsibility towards their Syrian brothers,” His Excellency added.
HE the Secretary General reasserted that the time has come for the Syrian Arab Republic and the Syrian people to enjoy the long-awaited safety and stability, and for Syria to regain its rightful place in the heart of the regional and international communities, proud, enriched with its ancient culture, pioneering knowledge and distinctive Syrian history, which has always been and will remain a source of pride for the nation.
He emphasised that it is incumbent upon us as Syria's partners in this critical phase to be its support, aiding its resurgence and reclaiming its standing through reinforced cooperation on all fronts, political, economic and social, contributing to building a better future for the Syrian people and the entire region.
In conclusion of his speech, His Excellency congratulated His Excellency President Joseph Aoun on winning the presidential elections in the brotherly Republic of Lebanon and gaining the confidence of the Parliament, wishing him success and prosperity for the brotherly Lebanese people, and reiterating the GCC's support for Lebanon's sovereignty, security, stability and territorial unity, as well as comprehensive reforms that enhance overcoming its crises and prevent Lebanon from becoming a launch point for activities threatening the region, stressing that commitment to Security Council resolutions and the Taif Agreement to ensure Lebanon's stability and sovereignty was also called for.
Simultaneously, HE the Secretary General condemned the continuous Israeli attacks on Lebanese territories and their humanitarian impact, highlighting the importance of supporting the Lebanese army and security forces, and urged the international community to intensify efforts to provide humanitarian aid to Lebanon, while he also commended the role of Lebanon's partners and the assistance provided by GCC countries and friendly nations to alleviate the suffering of the brotherly Lebanese people.
