Political solution the best option to end Syrian crisis

Obaid Salem Al Zaabi, UAE Permanent Representative to the United Nations, UN, in Geneva, stated that a report by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic has confirmed the deteriorating human rights and humanitarian conditions in Syria, as well as the ongoing violence perpetrated by Syrian government forces and their militias against civilians.

Al Zaabi also noted the silence of the international community and its failure to unite its position and implement the recommendations of the independent commission.

He made this statement as part of the UAE’s speech at the 36th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, which is being held under the framework of its interactive dialogue with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic.

Al Zaabi stressed that the UAE shares the same concerns with the commission regarding the fragile situation in certain areas of Syria, where a ceasefire was agreed upon in May 2017, and he hoped that this agreement would not be used to perpetrate more violence and other attacks.

He called on the involved parties to commit to the agreement and respect the ceasefire and to benefit from this opportunity to maintain the truce, as the potential start of a comprehensive political dialogue.

Al Zaabi further stressed that the UAE is concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Syria. He also reiterated its determination to continue its humanitarian actions in response to the Syrian refugee crisis, as part of its pledge at the Brussels Conference on 5th April, 2017, to provide US$68 million to help Syrians in need, as well as its declaration during the Leaders’ Summit on Refugees, which was held in New York on 20th September, 2016, to receive 15,000 Syrian refugees within a period of five years.

On a political level, Al Zaabi affirmed the UAE’s belief that a political solution is the best option to end the conflict in Syria, and he welcomed the constructive efforts to invite the Syrian regime and opposition groups to negotiate with each other, to counter the dangers posed by terrorist groups in the region.

The 36th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva is taking place between 11th and 29th September, 2017.