Syrian Arab Republic statement to the 79th UN General Assembly (FM Bassam Sabbagh), 30 Sep 2024 — Assad regime's final UNGA address before the December 2024 fall (English translation of Arabic original)

Mr. President, Ladies and gentlemen,

As this session of the General Assembly is taking place, tensions internationally have reached a boiling point, and efforts to maintain international peace and security are confronted with real challenges and threats: clashes are intensifying, crises are multiplying, conflicts are escalating, chaos is spreading, terrorism is gaining ground, the global economy is faltering, poverty rates are rising, climate change is accelerating, and development indicators are lagging. These are the unfortunate results of eight decades of multilateral action that have followed the establishment of the United Nations.

While we previously sought to promote preventive diplomacy and the peaceful settlement of disputes, we are witnessing today more direct wars and proxy wars waged using terrorist tools. Instead of investing efforts and resources in achieving sustainable development for all, some are flagrantly draining the resources of other countries, stealing from their people, and imposing unilateral coercive measures that impoverish and destroy nations.

For more than a decade, Syria has experienced unparalleled suffering. It fell victim to a fierce terrorist war, direct attacks on its territories that continue to this day, a multifaceted and stifling economic blockade, and an unprecedented political and media incitement campaign. Billions of dollars were spent to erode the development progress that Syria had worked over decades to achieve. Billions more were spent to spread chaos and undermine security and stability, and to force millions of Syrians to leave their homes.

Nevertheless, rest assured that, despite everything, we have remained faithful to our strong beliefs, our firm positions, and to the choices we made as a nation. Syria never hesitated to protect and defend its people and never faltered in its war on terrorism. All that has happened has revealed the true intentions of the collective West, which completely contradict the principles and purposes that formed the pillars of foundation and function of this international organization.

The ongoing Israeli occupation of Arab territories since 1967, including the Syrian Arab Golan, and the genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity it commits, are a glaring example of the failure of this organization, and namely the Security Council, to end this expansionist and racist occupation. It is damning proof that the United States has prevented the Council from fulfilling its responsibility to confront threats to international peace and security.

The Syrian Arab Republic unequivocally reiterates that the Golan is an occupied Syrian territory and that its inhabitants are Syrian Arab citizens, who are and will always be an integral part of the people of Syria.

The crimes and attacks of the Israeli occupying forces against Syria cannot be uncoupled from the subversive role played by certain Western countries, especially the United States, in my country Syria. These countries have continued to violate Syria's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, by illegally deploying their military forces inside Syria's territory, allowing their officials to sneak into Syria, and supporting separatist militias and terrorist groups.

These countries have also worked to exacerbate the humanitarian situation of the Syrian people by depriving them of the benefit of their resources as a result of their systematic looting of Syria's national riches, such as oil, gas, and wheat, and by imposing inhumane unilateral coercive measures.

Syria demands once again the immediate, full, and unconditional lifting of unilateral coercive measures as they **amount to a collective punishment of people, a form of economic terrorism, and a flagrant violation of the UN Charter and international law.**

Since the beginning of the terrorist war on Syria, the Syrian government has responsibly and constructively engaged with all initiatives aimed at preserving Syria's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, protecting its people from terrorists. Many measures have been taken to that end:

One: mobilizing all efforts to eradicate terrorist groups, such as ISIL and **Al-Nusra Front / Hayat Tahrir al-Sham**, which are designated on the Security Council lists of terrorist groups and associated entities.

Six: openly engaging with all the efforts and initiatives made at the political level, including taking part in the Astana meetings.

Seven: committing to dialogue and diplomacy as a basis to a course for correcting relations with other countries.

**Syria reiterates its support to the right of the Russian Federation to defend itself and to preserve its national security in response to the West's hostile policies**, and in rejection of the logic of hegemony, and unipolarity.

Syria expresses once again its full support to the Islamic Republic of Iran and its legitimate right to defend its national security, as guaranteed by the UN Charter, and its right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Syria condemns the decades-long United States' economic embargo on Cuba.

In conclusion, I would like to call on the countries of the world to summon the courage and make the right choice to guarantee a better present and future for present and future generations, and save humanity from the scourge of all-out wars looming on the horizon, by supporting the establishment of a more just and balanced multipolar global order, governed by the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter, and to reform international political and financial institutions to end the state of hegemony and unipolarity, and deters attempts to undermine the Charter and replace it with the so-called "rules-based order."

Thank you, Mr. President.