Saudi Arabia stressed before the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday its support for the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Syria, and its support for the efforts of the Syrian state to extend its sovereignty over its entire territory. The council met for a session dedicated to discussing the humanitarian and political situation in Syria. Speaking on behalf of the Arab Group, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Wasel called for the removal of Syria's name from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, stressing the importance of the international community's support for the transitional phase the country is going through. This will help in consolidating stability and improving the humanitarian situation, he added. The Arab Group expressed its backing for the Syrian government’s efforts in combating the ISIS terrorist organization, as well as terrorism in all its forms, underlining the importance of concerted international efforts to provide the necessary support during this phase. It also urged the international community to strengthen and expand support to countries hosting Syrian refugees, and not to leave them to bear the humanitarian and economic burdens alone. Furthermore, the Arab Group strongly condemned the repeated Israeli incursions and attacks on Syrian territory, stressing that they represent a flagrant violation of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It reiterated the need to compel Israel to fully comply with the 1974 disengagement agreement and to withdraw immediately and unconditionally from the occupied Syrian Golan.
