I thank the briefers for their overviews on the political situation, and the many humanitarian challenges Syrians are facing before the upcoming winter.
Looking at the political process, Estonia welcomes the announcement of holding the next round of Constitutional Committee talks at the end of this month in Geneva. Estonia calls the parties to engage actively in these discussions, as this fourth meeting is already long overdue.
We are cautiously optimistic about the overall political process, as there is also a preliminary agreement for the fifth round in January. Committee’s meetings must become regular, in order to build trust between the Syrian regime and its legitimate opposition.
I reiterate Estonia’s position that resolving the issue of detainees and missing persons is a cornerstone for national reconciliation and ending the conflict. More than one hundred thousand people remain detained or missing in Syria, largely at the hands of the Syrian regime. Release of arbitrarily detained people and identifying those, who have lost their lives, is at the core of resolutions 2254 and 2474.
Mr. President – Russia-Turkey ceasefire agreement from March seems to be holding. This truce provides local populations a break from violence, which is much needed in light of the growing numbers of Covid-19 infections around the country.
However, instability prevails in many parts of Syria. Estonia condemns in strongest terms yesterday’s bomb attacks near Al-Bab and Afrin, which wounded more than 40 people. We are also concerned that ISIL attacks are steadily increasing. Its propaganda continues, targeting vulnerable populations, including those living in overcrowded refugee camps.
In this regard, OCHA’s efforts in providing aid to millions of Syrians every month are crucial. Ahead of winter, preserving humanitarian access must be an imperative for the parties on the ground.
