Ambassador Michele J. Sison
U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations
U.S. Mission to the United Nations
New York City
December 19, 2017
AS DELIVERED
Thank you.
Today, the Council came together for an issue of critical importance. Today’s resolution allows the UN to continue to provide vital, life-saving cross-border assistance to millions of Syrians who need it to survive. Thanks to this mandate, more than 1 million Syrians every month receive assistance from the UN and its partners. This includes clean drinking water, medicine, and food.
Since Resolution 2165 was first adopted in 2014, nearly 17,000 trucks of aid have rolled into Syria. And each of these trucks was fully vetted by the dedicated UN Monitoring Mechanism. It is no exaggeration to say that this cross-border authorization for humanitarian assistance has saved lives in Syria. We reaffirm our commitment to support the delivery of cross-line and cross-border humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people.
The unfettered provision of cross-border assistance is of the utmost importance to reduce the suffering in Syria; however, it is no substitute for the absence of a political solution to this conflict. The United States remains committed to Resolution 2254 as the sole legitimate blueprint for a political resolution to this conflict. We call upon all parties to reaffirm support for the Geneva process as the only venue for a viable Syrian political process.
The United States was proud to vote in favor of this resolution today, and we will continue our robust support to the people of Syria in the days to come.
Thank you, Mr. President.
###
