NEW YORK CITY: The Arab Group at the UN has called on the US to remove Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.
It argued that the designation, imposed in 1979 while the former Assad regime ruled the country, no longer reflected the realities of the new Syrian state and was hindering its economic recovery.
Speaking on behalf of the group’s member states during a meeting of the Security Council on Monday to discuss the political and humanitarian situation in Syria, Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the UN, Abdulaziz Alwasil, said the group “reaffirms its support for the unity of Syria, its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” and backs the efforts of the Syrian state to extend its authority over all its territories.
He noted that since US President Donald Trump lifted most economic sanctions on Syria in June last year, the country “has witnessed a major economic shift in various vital areas” and attracted investment from around the world a short period of time. This reflected the international confidence in the reforms undertaken by the new Syrian government that was established after the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, he added
“We call on the United States to delist Syria from the list of countries co-sponsoring terrorism, knowing that Syria was added to that list decades ago because of the previous regime,” Alwasil said. Such a move would help encourage the flow of foreign investment into the country, he added.
The Arab Group urged all countries to increase their investments and contribute to “building a new, secure and prosperous Syria.” It also encouraged the UN to play a greater role in the development of the nation in line with the Syrian government’s vision and national priorities.
Regarding the issue of security, Alwasil said Syria “has witnessed several terrorist activities in past years” but the new government was sparing no effort to combat terrorism in the country. He called on the international community to support those efforts, including the fight against Daesh.
The group also pressed the UN and its specialized agencies to provide all possible support to the Syrian government to help complete its transitional period and advance early recovery and reconstruction efforts. Alwasil described this as essential to enable Syrian state institutions create the conditions required for the voluntary, dignified and sustainable return of refugees driven from the country during the civil war that began in 2011.
He praised host countries for their role in sheltering those refugees and called on the international community to expand the support it provides for them, warning that “it is not allowed to leave these countries to bear alone this major economic and humanitarian responsibility.”
Alwasil also raised the issue of landmines and other explosive remnants of war left behind after 13 years of conflict. He called on the international community and the UN to unite in support of efforts by the Syrian government to clear the country of these deadly devices and improve living conditions for the Syrian people.
The Arab Group strongly condemned Israeli authorities for what it described as repeated incursions and aggressions against Syrian territory, describing such activity as a blatant violation of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, a breach of the UN Charter and international law, and a threat to regional peace and security.
The group urged the international community to compel Israel to fully respect the 1974 disengagement agreement, and demanded the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Israeli forces from Syrian territory they entered recently, and from the occupied Syrian Golan.
“We reaffirm our steadfast commitment to stand by the brotherly Syrian people in their endeavors to build a safe, stable and prosperous state based on justice, equality and the rule of law in a way that would protect the rights of all Syrians,” Alwasil said.
