Madam President,
I would like to express my gratitude to
the Russian Federation and the United States
for their efforts as co-penholders
of the draft resolution we have just adopted.
Your work has enabled us to
unanimously renew the mandate of UNDOF,
which comes at a critical juncture for Syria and the region.
In this regard, I wish to highlight the following points:
The resolution underscores that
“there should be no military forces,
military equipment, or personnel
in the area of separation other than those of UNDOF.”
Therefore, the presence of Israeli forces in the area
is illegal and constitutes a flagrant violation of
the 1974 Disengagement Agreement
and relevant Security Council resolutions,
including the one we have just adopted.
Nothing can justify such a presence.
The resolution “stresses that
both parties must abide by the terms of
the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement
and scrupulously observe the ceasefire.”.
The 1974 agreement stipulates that
“the parties will scrupulously observe the cease-fire on land, sea and air
and will refrain from all military actions against each other,
from the time of the signing of this document,
in implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 338.”
Hence, the Israeli attacks
on both civilian and military infrastructure,
as well as its incursions into Syrian territory,
and occupation of new territory,
are clear violations of the agreement
and Security Council resolutions.
Earlier today,
a demonstration took place in Daraa governorate
to protest the presence of the Israeli forces
within Syrian territory and to demand its withdrawal.
The protest was met with violence,
as occupation soldiers opened fire, injuring a young man.
To those who still doubt that
we are witnessing the occupation of new territories in Syria, I ask:
what is your stance on this?
These acts are neither defensive nor justified.
They constitute aggression against a UN member state
and merit our unequivocal condemnation.
The resolution
“calls upon the parties concerned to
implement immediately its resolution 338”
Let me recall that resolution 338
calls for the immediate implementation of
Security Council resolution 242 in all its parts.
Resolution 242 explicitly calls for
the withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in 1967.
Thus, the Israeli presence in the Golan Heights
constitutes an occupation.
Algeria reaffirms its steadfast position that
the Golan is an occupied Syrian territory.
Furthermore, Algeria reiterates its full support for UNDOF
and its peacekeepers,
whose safety and security must be ensured by all parties.
We extend our congratulations to Major General Anita Asmah
on her appointment as Head of Mission
and Force Commander of UNDOF,
assuring her of our full support.
In conclusion,
I wish to emphasize that
the fragile situation in Syria demands
our collective solidarity and support.
The international community must set aside
its rivalries and competition
to avert a catastrophic scenario in Syria and the broader region.
We must work together to assist the Syrian people
in preserving their country’s independence,
unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,
and in establishing new institutions for a brighter future for Syria.
Thank you.
