Security Council on Syria: Greece asks for protection of all communities and Orthodox Christians; 5.5 million remain displaced

Greece asked the UN Security Council for concrete progress from the new Syrian authorities in protecting all religious and ethnic communities, with a specific reference to a resurgence of violence that also affects Orthodox Christians. Greece’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Aglaia Balta, spoke in her national capacity at the meeting of Monday, October 12, on Syria’s political transition, which is under pressure from economic hardship, inter-communal tensions and Israeli operations in the south of the country. Greece holds the presidency of the Security Council in October.

What Greece asked for

“Education must be at the core of Syria’s recovery,” Balta said. She acknowledged that the new authorities have taken steps, but noted that more progress is needed on security and on the rights of all communities. She called the recent violence in Suqaylabiyah and Homs a worrying reminder of fragile social cohesion, and said there are reports of renewed violence affecting, among others, the Orthodox Christian community. “All Syrians must feel truly represented, protected and included in the transition process,” she stressed.

The Greek ambassador welcomed Damascus’s commitment to work with the UN on a plan to end and prevent grave violations against children and asked that it be adopted quickly. “Syria cannot afford a lost generation of children,” she said. She also asked for a review of recent guidelines and for equal, non-discriminatory access to higher education. The Greek position was reported by ERT.

The UN figures

According to UN News coverage of the meeting, around 5.5 million Syrians remain displaced, about 800,000 of them in camps. The UN and Damascus have begun discussing preparations for future elections, including possible UN electoral assistance. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has for the first time verified the destruction of Syrian chemical munitions, 42 aerial bombs, and the International Atomic Energy Agency closed on September 9 its investigation into Syria’s nuclear non-compliance. Israeli forces have held expanded territory in southern Syria since December 2024.

UN officials who briefed the Council asked international partners to turn political support into funding, technical assistance and projects, and repeated the call to respect the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement in light of the Israeli operations in southern Syria, a subject Greece also raised in the Council as UNDOF’s mandate was discussed. On Sweida, they said a solution can be found only through dialogue between Syrians. On humanitarian needs, they said that since December 2024 more than 1.82 million refugees and 2.04 million internally displaced people have returned, yet explosive remnants of war have caused 2,500 deaths and injuries, and the 2026 humanitarian plan is only 32% funded.

US Ambassador Tammy Bruce called on Israel and Syria to de-escalate, while Turkey’s ambassador Ahmet Yıldız spoke of strengthening the Syrian security forces against the Islamic State, a topic also discussed recently in Ankara by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani.