The guarantor states of the Astana process reaffirmed their strong commitment to the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Syria, as well as to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. They emphasized the necessity of globally respecting and adhering to these principles and continued cooperation until the eradication of terrorist organizations in Syria.
In the final statement today from the fifteenth meeting of the Astana format, held in Sochi, Russia, on February 16 and 17, the guarantor states, “Russia, Iran, and Turkey,” reiterated their determination to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and to oppose secessionist agendas aimed at undermining Syria's sovereignty and territorial unity, which pose a threat to the security of neighboring countries. The guarantor states condemned the increase in terrorist activities in Syria, which lead to the loss of innocent lives, and agreed to continue their cooperation to eliminate the terrorist organization “ISIS” and “Al-Nusra Front,” as well as all individuals, groups, and entities associated with Al-Qaeda or “ISIS” and other terrorist groups as designated by the United Nations Security Council, while ensuring the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure in accordance with international humanitarian law.
The guarantor states detailed the situation in the de-escalation zone in Idlib, emphasizing the need for the full implementation of all agreements regarding it. They discussed the situations in northeastern Syria, agreeing that long-term security and stability in this area can only be achieved on the basis of preserving Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. They reaffirmed their rejection of attempts to create new realities on the ground under the pretext of combating terrorism and expressed their opposition to the illegal seizure and diversion of oil revenues that should belong to Syria.
The guarantor states condemned the repeated Israeli attacks on Syria, considering them violations of international law and international humanitarian law that undermine Syria's sovereignty and that of neighboring states, posing risks to stability and security in the region, and called for their cessation. The guarantor nations reiterated their commitment to advancing the political process led and owned by Syrians and facilitated by the United Nations, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, indicating the important role of the Constitutional Committee established as a result of the significant contribution of the Astana guarantors, reinforcing the outcomes of the Syrian National Dialogue Conference in Sochi.
They reviewed in detail the results of the fifth round of the Small Constitutional Committee held from January 25 to 29 in Geneva and confirmed their support for the work of this committee through ongoing interaction among its members and with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, as facilitator to ensure its sustainable and effective operation. The guarantor states expressed their conviction that the committee's work should proceed without foreign interference and imposed timelines from outside in order to reach a general agreement among its members.
They also expressed grave concern about the humanitarian situation in Syria, particularly under the conditions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that the pandemic poses a profound challenge to the health reality in Syria and affects social, economic, and humanitarian conditions. They rejected the unilateral coercive economic measures imposed on Syria that contradict international law, international humanitarian law, and the United Nations Charter, especially in the context of the pandemic, pointing out the calls made by the UN Secretary-General and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in this regard.
Furthermore, the guarantor states stressed the necessity of increasing humanitarian assistance for all Syrians across the country without discrimination, politicization, or preconditions to support the improvement of the humanitarian situation in the country and to make progress in the political solution process. They urged the international community, the United Nations, and its humanitarian agencies to assist Syria in the reconstruction of infrastructure, including water and electricity facilities, schools, and hospitals, as well as humanitarian efforts related to mine clearance, in accordance with the provisions of international humanitarian law.
The guarantor states emphasized the need to facilitate the safe and voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their original areas in Syria, calling on the international community to provide appropriate contributions and reaffirming their readiness to continue interacting with all relevant parties, including the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and other specialized international agencies.
The guarantor states decided to hold the sixteenth international meeting on Syria in the Astana format in the capital of Kazakhstan, Nur-Sultan, in mid-2023.
