76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
UN Security Council meeting on Syria
Statement by DPR Andre Lipand
October 27, New York
I thank Special Envoy Pedersen and Undersecretary Griffiths for their informative briefings. We welcome the participation of Ms. Mounerfah Albarouki, and appreciate her insightful comments.
Estonia condemns in the strongest terms last week’s acts of violence that took place across Syria. These include the attack on a military bus in Damascus and missile attacks in Ariha on October 20th. At least 10 civilians, including 4 children, where killed in the town of Ariha in Idlib Province on that day.
I reiterate our call for a nationwide ceasefire, which is a precondition for a peaceful dialogue, based on the resolution 2254. All parties must adhere to international law; and provide safe, sustained, and unimpeded humanitarian access to all Syrian people.
This new wave of violence highlights the fact that unfortunately the war is far from over. As noted last month by Ms. Mhaissen, refugees do not intend to return to Syria under these circumstances. I reiterate that the return of refugees must be voluntary, safe and dignified.
Looking at the humanitarian situation, we commend OCHA for reaching on average 5 million people in both August and September with humanitarian aid. As noted by Mr. Griffiths, cross-border aid deliveries remain essential in providing food and lifesaving support to millions of internally displaced.
This support is crucial, as overall living standards continue to deteriorate due to widespread corruption and warlordism. Estonia expresses concern over recent reporting on currency manipulation by the Syrian regime, which has forced international aid agencies to use a distorted exchange rate.
Mr. President – I thank Special Envoy Pederson for his efforts, but after six rounds of Constitutional Committee talks, there have been no substantial discussions on the Constitution, no regularity in meetings, and no meaningful progress. The Constitutional Committee has failed the Syrian people. We are witnessing delaying tactics and empty promises. In this light, I encourage the Special Envoy to explore other confidence building measures to help to mediate the conflicting interests.
Locating the missing people – whether deceased or arbitrarily detained – remains a priority for Estonia. Investigative mechanisms, such as the Commission of Inquiry of the Human Rights Council and IIIM of the General Assembly, are important tools to reach this goal.
