Guterres calls for Syria to be the protagonist of its own transition a year after the fall of Al Assad

The Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, has celebrated the anniversary of the fall of the regime of former Syrian president Bashar al Assad with an applause to the Syrian people and a call to the international community to facilitate the “difficult” transition process.

“I pay tribute to the resilience and bravery of the Syrian people, who never stopped nurturing hope despite enduring unimaginable difficulties,” Guterres said in a statement published this Sunday, the eve of Al Assad’s departure from power after an offensive on several fronts led by the now dissolved jihadist organization Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS).

Guterres estimates that Syria faces “much more than a political transition” but also “the opportunity to rebuild shattered communities and heal deep divisions.”

After once again pledging the full support of the UN to make the transition a success in the face of “considerable but not insurmountable challenges”, he has also called on the international community to facilitate this work for the transitional president and former leader of HTS, Ahmed al Shara.

“The past year has shown that significant change is possible when the Syrian population is empowered and supported to lead their own transition,” he said.

“While humanitarian needs across the country remain immense, progress has been made in restoring essential services, expanding humanitarian access and creating pathways for the return of refugees and displaced people,” Guterres added.

“The international community must firmly support this Syrian-led and controlled transition. This includes ensuring respect for Syria’s sovereignty, removing obstacles to reconstruction, funding humanitarian appeals, promoting economic development and ensuring that the transition brings tangible benefits to Syrians on the ground,” he concluded.