United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Damascus on Saturday for an official visit to Syria, the first by a serving UN chief in 17 years. He is scheduled to meet with President Ahmed al-Sharaa and other government officials during a trip intended to address the country’s future stability.
According to Syria’s state news agency, Guterres was greeted at Damascus international airport by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani. The Secretary-General’s agenda includes meetings with President al-Sharaa, who was under United Nations Security Council sanctions until 2025. Discussions are also planned with other Syrian officials and representatives from civil society groups.
The trip marks the first official visit by a UN secretary-general since 2009, prior to the start of the conflict in the country in 2011.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated that Guterres plans to emphasize that Syria has an opportunity “to not only to recover from conflict, but also to lay the foundations for a future for Syria that will be more stable, more inclusive, and more prosperous for all Syrians.”
The Secretary-General’s office has not released a full itinerary, but Guterres is expected to be in Damascus for several days. He is scheduled to address Syria’s new parliament on Monday.
The visit will also include a field tour to inspect the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). The force is stationed in the Golan Heights to monitor a ceasefire agreement between Syria and Israel.
The Secretary-General’s visit follows a recent trip to Damascus by French President Emmanuel Macron. Weeks before Guterres’s arrival, two bombs detonated near a hotel in the city during Macron’s stay. Syrian authorities later announced they had arrested several suspects in connection with the bombings and stated the individuals were affiliated with the ISIL (ISIS) group.
