The United Nations announced on Tuesday that Secretary-General António Guterres will travel to Damascus later this week at the invitation of the Syrian government. The visit will mark his first trip to Syria since assuming office as UN Secretary-General.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said Guterres is scheduled to meet with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, and several other senior Syrian officials during his visit.
According to Dujarric, the Secretary-General will reaffirm the United Nations’ commitment to supporting the Syrian government and people at what he described as a pivotal moment in the country’s history. He is also expected to discuss the UN’s ongoing efforts to promote stability and support Syria’s reconstruction.
Claudio Cordone, Deputy Special Envoy of the United Nations for Syria, told the Security Council that the primary objective of the visit is to support Syria’s political transition and reinforce ongoing efforts to advance that process.
As part of the visit, Guterres will also meet with representatives of civil society, non-governmental organizations, and women’s rights groups to hear their perspectives on the political transition and the country’s reconstruction.
The Secretary-General will further underscore the importance of respecting Syria’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, which will be among the central themes of his discussions with Syrian officials.
Guterres will also visit the United Nations peacekeeping force stationed in the buffer zone of the Golan Heights. The force has been deployed there since 1974 to monitor the ceasefire between Syria and Israel.
The trip will be António Guterres’ first visit to Syria as UN Secretary-General and the first visit by a UN Secretary-General to the country since 2009, when his predecessor, Ban Ki-moon, traveled to Syria.
Earlier, in December, a delegation from the UN Security Council also visited Syria and held talks with Syrian officials on the country’s political and security developments.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
