United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stated during a press conference in Damascus that violations of Syrian territorial sovereignty are unacceptable and called on Israel to strictly adhere to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. According to the United Nations, Guterres confirmed that a detailed report regarding Israeli violations in Syria will be submitted to the Security Council by the end of the month.
Implementation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and Recent Border Shifts
The 1974 agreement was originally signed by Syria and Israel following the October 6 war in 1973 to separate opposing forces and establish a buffer zone. However, according to Israeli announcements made on December 8, 2024, that framework collapsed when the Israeli cabinet decided to occupy the Syrian Mount Hermon border region near the occupied Golan Heights. At the time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Syrian soldiers had abandoned their positions, declaring that the military would act as the primary executive force in the area to prevent hostile powers from positioning themselves near the border.
Humanitarian Needs and the Call for Economic Reintegration
Addressing the broader humanitarian crisis, Guterres noted that current UN aid efforts respond to roughly 20 percent of the Syrian population’s actual needs. To bridge this gap, the UN chief urged the international community to reconnect Syria with regional and international economies. According to Guterres, the country requires substantial backing to restore basic infrastructure, rebuild healthcare and educational systems, and revive economic opportunities so that the population does not carry the burden of recovery alone.
Did you know? António Guterres’ recent visit to Damascus marks the first time an official United Nations Secretary-General has traveled to Syria since 2009.
Political Transition and High-Level Diplomatic Meetings
During his visit starting on Saturday, Guterres met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharq at the People’s Palace to discuss strengthening humanitarian cooperation, early recovery, and reconstruction efforts. According to the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), both leaders emphasized the preservation of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Guterres also held a joint press conference with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, where he reiterated that the Golan is Syrian land and demanded an immediate halt to all violations.
Inspections at Sednaya Prison and Local Resilience
As part of his itinerary, Guterres visited the notorious Sednaya prison in the northern Damascus countryside alongside Syria’s permanent representative to the UN, Ibrahim Albi. Reporting on the site, Guterres stated he felt a deep sense of horror knowing tens of thousands suffered torture and death there, yet observed notable signs of progress in the ongoing political transition. He emphasized that the primary task now is translating political shifts into tangible improvements for citizens who have shown extraordinary resilience through years of conflict.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What did the UN Secretary-General demand regarding the 1974 agreement? Guterres called on Israel to strictly abide by the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and stated that violations of Syrian sovereignty are unacceptable.
- How much of Syria’s humanitarian need is currently met by the UN? According to Guterres, current UN aid covers approximately 20 percent of the population’s needs.
- When was the last time a UN Secretary-General visited Syria? This trip marks the first visit by a sitting UN Secretary-General to Syria since 2009.
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