Paris: Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi confirmed that the GCC countries have been and remain a primary supporter of the Syrian people, not only through the provision of urgent humanitarian relief but also in their commitment to a clear stance regarding the solution in Syria, which can only be through a genuine political transition that preserves its sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, and meets the aspirations of the Syrian people for security, stability, and a dignified life, in accordance with international references and relevant Security Council resolutions.
This was stated during his speech at the Paris Conference on Syria, hosted by France on Thursday.
"We believe that the Syrian people deserve a better future - one where their dignity is respected, their sovereignty safeguarded, and where every citizen finds the opportunity to live in peace and security. We view this conference as an important step to coordinate visions and enhance cooperation among partners. It comes at a moment that requires all of us to show courage and express a firm commitment to the principles that safeguard the security of peoples and their basic rights," Albudaiwi stated.
The GCC Secretary General affirmed the GCC's full readiness to work with the Syrian transitional government and international partners to build a safe and prosperous future for Syria.
He indicated that the Council began its efforts from the early events that accompanied the regime change in Syria by holding an extraordinary ministerial meeting for the foreign ministers of the Council in Kuwait on December 26, 2024. During that meeting, the foreign ministers discussed the developments and issued a statement affirming the GCC's steadfast positions.
Albudaiwi stressed that Syria's future cannot be built in the presence of foreign interventions or chaos, as it was before. Syria cannot be a starting point for any terrorist acts or a haven for terrorist organizations, nor a point for drug trafficking to neighboring countries, causing instability and insecurity in the region. In this regard, the GCC reaffirms its steadfast commitment to Syria's unity and sovereignty and rejects any attempts to impose a new reality through violence, terrorism, or extremism, the GCC Secretary General underscored.
He praised the steps taken by the Syrian transitional government to maintain civilian safety, prevent bloodshed, achieve national reconciliation among various components, and its recent decision to dissolve militias and armed factions, limiting the use of arms to the state. All these efforts will contribute to enhancing security and stability, he said.
He also expressed the GCC's firm position in condemning the repeated Israeli attacks on Syria, including the occupation of the buffer zone on the Syrian border, which are gross violations of Syrian sovereignty and the disengagement agreement concluded in 1974.
Albudaiwi noted that achieving stability in Syria also requires empowering it economically, which cannot be achieved without lifting the sanctions imposed on it.
