Syria: Norway will continue to promote a political solution

The Syrian conflict is currently deadlocked. There is a lack of trust between the parties, and disagreement between national, regional, and global actors on the way to move forward. A Syria-owned and Syrian-led Constitutional Committee has been established under Security Council resolution 2254 (2015) as part of the UN-led peace process. The international community has expressed disappointment at the Committee’s lack of progress.

Norway supports the ongoing efforts of the UN Special Envoy for Syria and the UN to find a political solution to the Syrian conflict, for example by funding efforts to promote capacity-building and the inclusion of women and civil society. Norway has also facilitated discussion of long-term political solutions in various dialogue settings and formats. Norway promotes dialogue at the local level aimed at reducing violence, as well as other forms of dialogue across political and religious divisions on political developments in Syria. It is vital that any political solution is inclusive and has the support of the Syrian population.

Our peace efforts also support the implementation of Security Council resolution 2585 on cross-border humanitarian access to Syria, which was drafted by Norway and Ireland and adopted by consensus. These efforts are carried out in cooperation with our dialogue partners.

Norway is one of the largest donors of humanitarian aid to people affected by the conflict in Syria and has provided over NOK 15 billion in humanitarian support during the course of the last ten years. In 2021, Norway provided a total of approximately NOK 1.6 billion in support.