Security Council Hears Call for Merit-Based Appointments as Syria Seeks Shift from Relief Aid to Reconstruction, Growth

While hailing the Syrian Government's progress in institutional, integration and military sector reforms, and the return of millions of refugees and displaced, briefers warned the Security Council today that dire economic conditions and security and humanitarian challenges remain a threat to the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, noted since December 2024, more than 2 million internally displaced Syrians and 1.8 million refugees have gone home voluntarily. This "historic wave of return - the highest in Syria in two decades" represents "a profound sign of hope", he stated. Citing improved security, eased sanctions, and resilient communities driving this recovery, he recalled his office and 300 partners have reached over 2.5 million people monthly this year.

However, he noted 5.5 million people inside Syria have not yet gone home, with nearly 800,000 of them trapped in camps - over 75 per cent women and children. "And without homes, schools or clean water, today's returnees risk becoming tomorrow's displaced," he stated, calling for support for the Government's No Tents and No Camps initiative.

Citing "three asks of this Council", he called for investment in the transition out of humanitarian need and towards reconstruction and growth. Thanking donor States, he recalled the Syria Humanitarian Fund has received $325 million, over twice last year's figure.

As winter approaches amid regional instability, "funding will be vital" against losing advances, he stressed. Requesting redoubled diplomatic efforts in support of Syria's territorial integrity, he said: "Syrians have endured enough", calling for the international community to "meet this moment".

Claudio Cordone, Deputy Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria,briefed the Council on the country's political situation. Recalling his recent stay in the country, he noted that officials and civil society expressed "a strong commitment to build a Syria where everyone feels they belong, with representative institutions [and] a culture of accountability for both past and present".

On the north-east, he pointed to signs of progress such as Mazloum Abdi's appointment as a presidential adviser following the Syrian Democratic Forces' dissolution and integration into the Syrian military. However, he voiced concern about a former Syrian Democratic Forces fighter who was recently abducted and killed, triggering demonstrations in several Kurdish-majority towns.

The situation in Sweida also remains concerning, he reported. Further, Israeli military activity in southern Syria continued in violation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, he said, pointing to near-daily incursions and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Jabal al-Sheikh/Mount Hermon. Calling for diplomacy, he welcomed United States-led mediation efforts.

Institutionally, he noted the People's Assembly had formed 26 standing committees (five chaired by women), while recalling discussions with Syrian authorities addressed preparations for future parliamentary and presidential elections.

Competence, Integrity, Merit Should Determine Appointments to Public Roles

Yaser Tabbara, co-founder of the Syrian Forum, speaking on behalf of Syria's civil society, stressed that while post-conflict Governments understandably seek officials they can trust, "trust cannot become the principal qualification for public service". For Syria to rebuild effective institutions, "competence, integrity and merit" must increasingly guide appointments to leadership and public office.

Using the example of Ambassador Ibrahim Olabi, a respected human-rights lawyer serving as Syria's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, he highlighted the broader question of how many qualified Syrians, both inside the country and across the diaspora, could help rebuild the nation if appropriate recruitment systems existed.

He maintained that ensuring talented lawyers, economists, engineers, academics, diplomats, entrepreneurs and policy professionals can "compete fairly" is not simply an administrative challenge but "fundamentally political".

Strong merit-based institutions require "transparency", "an inclusive political environment", "an empowered civil society", "freedom of expression and access to information".

Citizens must believe that "professional competence and public integrity" provide a real path to public service, while civil society should be treated as a "partner in governance, oversight and institution-building", he said.

Assad Regime's Secret Nuclear Programme

As the floor opened for debate, the United States' delegate welcomed ongoing progress in political, humanitarian and security priorities, and the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) ending of its non-compliance finding for Syria - reflecting the Government's commitment to transparency "about the former regime's clandestine nuclear programme", and to the peaceful use of nuclear technology going forward. Reminding the Council that 15 years ago that body first received notice from IAEA that the Assad regime had tried to build a nuclear reactor to produce weapons-grade plutonium, she recalled that "some members of this Council shamelessly parroted the Assad regime's lies and tried to deflect blame onto Israel".

Representatives of the United Kingdom, Colombia, Latvia and Greece were among those heralding progress, with the latter describing a "moment of profound transition". France's representative, Council President for September, speaking in his national capacity, cited Syria's efforts to disclose the previous regime's nuclear- and chemical-weapons programmes, "a rare advance in a landscape that has been degraded by non-proliferation issues". Meanwhile, Denmark's delegate affirmed that Syria's political transition must follow international standards, a clear road map and sound institutional checks and balances, while stressing: "The full participation of women, minorities, youth and civil society in general remains essential."

However, Panama's delegate voiced concern over the humanitarian funding gap, with the representative of the Russian Federation stressing that "Syria's needs remain enormous" - pointing out that the mass return of people is placing additional burden on the country's weakened infrastructure. "There is a real need to rebuild schools, the water supply and sanitation," he warned, and systematically inform the population regarding the dangers posed by unexploded ordnance. He called for predictable financing for humanitarian operations in Syria to both prevent backsliding of positive trends and create conditions for sustainable development.

Syria Rejects Occupation by Israel

Syria's delegate noted that last year, his Government had come to the high-level week of the General Assembly "carrying its vision for engaging with the international family after long decades of absence". This year "Syria comes having seized this opportunity and matched its words with actions," he affirmed. While he had hoped to herald progress in State institutions, military and administrative integration, combating ISIL/Da'esh and the return of millions of refugees, he stated: "I find myself compelled to devote this statement" to the unlawful entry of Israel into Syria "in a blatant violation" rejected by Syria and 44 other countries.

"Israel penetrated our villages, displaced our people, bombed our facilities while we chose to spare the region further suffering", he stated. While Syria chose to open the door to mediation, and his Government has engaged in good faith with the American initiative, Israel "ignited tensions and unrest" - killing Syrians and "openly boasted about occupying" the country, he noted. "Yes, we want to move towards diplomatic solutions and the security agreement under America's sponsorship" and Syria has demonstrated this "by deed and not just by word", he affirmed. However, "under no circumstances" will it accept occupation. "Let us together write a different chapter in our history - a chapter whose title is stability and development, not war and aggression," he stressed, heralding "a golden opportunity".

Israel Accuses Türkiye of Expanding Presence inside Syria

Responding, the representative of Israel said his country welcomed Syria's political transition and has therefore "engaged directly with the new Syrian Government to reach a security agreement". However, he stressed the country "must control its own territory", warning that instability was creating opportunities for ISIS, Hizbullah, Iran and other armed actors. "We should be aware of the radical Islamist threat in the Middle East," he added, recalling the "ISIS beheading of American journalists and British aid workers on Syrian soil". He cited weapons smuggling through Syria and said Israel would not "leave its security to chance", defending its buffer presence in the Golan Heights as a "defensive measure" intended to prevent an 7 October-style cross-border attack.

Focusing much of his statement on Türkiye, he accused Ankara of intending to "expand its own military capabilities inside Syria and take over the country", adding that Türkiye has 20,000 troops and over 100 bases in Syria. "It is about taking over a neighbouring country," he said. He contrasted what he described as Israel's "tiny defensive buffer" with Türkiye's larger territorial presence, saying that "if we are serious about sovereignty, then we must apply the same standard and condemnations to everyone". He also accused the Turkish leadership of increasingly hostile rhetoric towards Israel and of supporting Hamas, including "blatant anti-Semitism from President Erdoğan ".

The representatives of Oman, on behalf of the Arab Group, and Somalia, speaking also for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Liberia, joined Bahrain and China in objecting to Israeli incursions into Syrian territory.

The representative of Türkiye responded directly to Israel's criticism, affirming that strengthening Syria's national capacities is "a sovereign right of Syria" and "not any business of Israel". He rejected efforts to portray Turkish Syrian military cooperation as threatening, stressing that it is conducted "with the consent of the Syrian Government" and is not directed against any third country. "Unfortunately, Israel's representative went beyond all red lines against my country," he said.

"Türkiye is a friend of Syria, contrary to Israel," he said, with a positive and constructive regional role. Ankara has supported Syrians throughout the conflict and reconstruction period and rejected what he called Israel's "baseless claims" against Türkiye and its President. Meanwhile, Pakistan's delegate specified the need for Israel to strictly respect 1974 Disengagement Agreement.