Guterres Arrives in Syria on First Visit by a UN Secretary-General Since Before the War

SadaNews - Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, arrived in Syria on Saturday, on a visit during which he intends to affirm the country's support during the transitional phase to build a "more stable and inclusive" state.

SANA reported that Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibli welcomed Guterres and his accompanying delegation at Damascus International Airport.

Guterres's visit to Syria is the first by a UN Secretary-General in his position since the war broke out nearly 14 years ago, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands and the displacement of millions.

This visit marks another landmark for Syria since the opposition ousted former President Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, ending the war that erupted in 2011 and initiating a transitional phase managed by new leadership.

At that time, Guterres described the "end of dictatorship in Syria" under Assad as a beacon of hope for the region.

Guterres is scheduled to meet with President Ahmad al-Shara, and UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Tuesday that the Secretary-General will also meet with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibli, other government officials, and representatives from the Syrian civil society.

Dujarric added that Guterres will emphasize that the country has an opportunity "not only to recover from the conflict, but also to lay the foundations for a future for Syria that is more stable, inclusive, and prosperous for all Syrians".

Guterres's visit to Damascus is expected to last several days, but his office has yet to disclose the full itinerary of his visit.

This visit comes just weeks after two bombs exploded near a hotel in Damascus where French President Emmanuel Macron spent the night, casting a shadow over the first visit by a head of state from the European Union to Syria since the ousting of Assad.