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UN says Secretary‑General to visit Syria this week to reaffirm support and meet government and civil society
Summary
The United Nations announced Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres will travel to Syria later this week at the Syrian government's invitation to meet senior officials, civil society and UN peacekeeping personnel; the trip will largely be confined to the greater Damascus area because of security constraints.
The United Nations announced that Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres will visit Syria later this week at the invitation of the Syrian government and will meet President Ahmed al Sharra and Foreign Minister Assad al Shaibani, a UN spokesperson said.
The spokesperson, Steph, told reporters that “He will arrive in Syria later this week at the invitation of the government of Syria,” and that the visit is meant to reaffirm the UN’s commitment to supporting the Syrian government and the Syrian people during a defining period in the country’s history.
The spokesperson said the secretary‑general will “underscore the importance of respecting Syria’s sovereignty, its unity, and its territorial integrity,” and will meet representatives of civil society, women’s organizations and diverse communities to hear firsthand about recovery and political transition. Steph also said the secretary‑general plans to visit the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) during the trip.
UN officials described the visit as an opportunity to witness both “the hope and the challenges of the political transition and recovery,” while acknowledging that security constraints will limit travel. When asked where the meetings with civil society would take place, the spokesperson said most meetings are expected to occur in the greater Damascus area because of security and logistical limits, though the secretary‑general hopes to meet representatives reflecting Syria’s diversity.
The announcement follows Security Council briefings from UN envoys, including deputy special envoy Claudio Cardone, who told council members that institutional milestones have been reached in Syria but that building public confidence will require effective and balanced governance, meaningful participation by women and progress on accountability and transitional justice.
The UN said further details of the visit will be shared and posted online as they become available. In a question‑and‑answer session, the spokesperson declined to provide details about any additional stops beyond a previously announced trip to Cyprus.
