�� Statement by Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN Vassily Nebenzia at a UNSC Briefing on the Work of the UNSC 1737 Committee (New York, March 18, 2026)

�� Vassily Nebenzia: The US-Israeli confrontation with Iran is engulfing more and more states of the region, including Syria. The country recovered from the repercussions of the 14-year-long bloody civil war, but it was not long before it faced the risk of being entangled in another armed conflict. This scenario can undo all the hard-won achievements so far on national reconciliation and restoring state unity. Of particular concern are the tensions along the border between Syria and Lebanon, where, amidst Hezbollah-Israel intense clashes, the Syrian government has deployed additional units to patrol the border.

We call upon all parties to exercise utmost restraint, crack down on any provocations that have the potential to fan the flames of war. <...>

Attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of Syria on the pretext of protecting ethnic and religious minorities, primarily the Druze community, have still not been abandoned.

☝️ We urge West Jerusalem to shelve the plans to weaken Syrian statehood, as well as withdraw its troops from the Syrian territories and return to negotiating in good faith with Damascus. <...>

If the military tensions in the Middle East persist, they will inevitably lead to further aggravation of the humanitarian situation. Syrians, much like the people in the neighboring countries, will feel the effects of this, first and foremost, through rising grocery prices. It is of particular concern, as the food security situation in Syria has already been extremely difficult – more than 7 million people are acutely food insecure. <...>

We attach importance to a gradual transition from providing humanitarian assistance to the sustainable recovery and development of the country. It is especially relevant due to remaining problems in healthcare, water and energy supplies and in other vital areas. <...>

Amid multiple security and economic challenges, what remains relevant is comprehensive cooperation between Damascus and the UN, rooted in Syria’s national priorities and unconditional respect for its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

We express our support for the work done by the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria.

�� We reassert the relevance of UNSC Resolution 2254 and the importance of an inclusive political process in accordance with the key principles, while paying proper regard to all ethnic and religious groups of the population.

We would like to wish the Syrian authorities and people further successes in restoring the country’s territorial integrity. We would also like to reaffirm Russia’s support for the efforts in this direction.

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