Joint Nordic-Baltic Statement: Prevention of armed conflict

Joint Statement by H.E. Ms. Elina Kalkku, 
Permanent Representative of Finland,
on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries
General Assembly 79th session: Agenda item 32(a): Prevention of armed conflict
29 April, 2025

Mr. President,
Distinguished delegates,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the eight Nordic-Baltic countries: Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and my own country Finland.

Mr. President,

First of all, we want to express our full support to creating a stable, democratic, inclusive and prosperous Syria.

Since the end of Bashar Al-Assad’s rule in December 2024, there is a unique opportunity to promote justice and truth for the many people that have lost their loved ones and to ensure accountability for the most serious crimes committed in Syria in one of the bloodiest armed conflicts in recent history.

The fall of the Assad regime marks a pivotal moment for the Syrian people to shape the future of their country. We stand with the Syrian people and reaffirm our commitment to support a Syrian-owned, Syrian-led, inclusive transition.

After 14 years of brutal civil war marked with wide-scale atrocities, human rights violations and abuses against the people in Syria, we must seize the opportunity for justice.

Accountability for serious violations of international law, including war crimes and crimes against humanity, is a precondition for sustainable peace and development. Perpetrators of atrocity crimes must be brought to justice. Not only to ensure justice for victims, but also to prevent and deter future violations.

Mr. President,

We warmly welcome the transitional government’s facilitation of the timely visit of the Head of the Mechanism, Mr. Robert Petit, to Syria in December 2024, to ensure cooperation with the new authorities and civil society representatives and to emphasize the importance of preserving evidence.

We commend the determined efforts of Mr. Robert Petit and the Mechanism, as shown in the 11th report presented to the General Assembly today, on the investigation of the most serious crimes committed in Syria. Since its creation in 2016, the Mechanism has been documenting, monitoring, and publishing reports on abuses and violations. Their work stands as a beacon of hope for justice and accountability in the region. The meticulous documentation and cooperation with national and international judicial bodies underscore the unwavering commitment to upholding the principles of international law and the fight against impunity.

Mr. President,

The Nordic-Baltic countries highly appreciate all the work undertaken by the Mechanism. We welcome the Mechanism’s victim/survivor-centered approach and its close cooperation with civil society. Both are vital to advancing inclusive justice and ensuring that the voices of those most affected are central to the process. We remain active supporters of the Mechanism.

We welcome the preparations for a cooperation framework with the Syrian Arab Republic to deploy and conduct operations in the country, including the decision to deploy a liaison officer and efforts to open a field office in Damascus. We trust the Syrian transitional government will enable the Mechanism to operate in Syria in accordance with its mandate.

The Nordic-Baltic countries welcome the efforts undertaken by many States to close the accountability gap in Syria through their national jurisdictions. The international community should work together towards a longer-term and holistic solution to bring justice for victims.

The Mechanism was not created to achieve these aims alone. We call on all States to cooperate with the Mechanism in information sharing and to provide it with the necessary operational support.

We also encourage the Syrian authorities to take strong action in pursuing accountability for the crimes committed during the Assad regime, including holding al-Assad accountable. We encourage the Syrian Arab Republic to accept the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.

The establishment of the Mechanism by the General Assembly in 2016 is an important reminder of the power of the Assembly to step in when the Security Council is unable or unwilling to act. The General Assembly must be ready to fill the gap created by the use of the veto, in line with the Veto Initiative.

The Nordic-Baltic countries remain convinced that sustainable and predictable resources for the Mechanism can only be guaranteed through adequate funding from the UN regular budget. Voluntary funding is also necessary but cannot replace assessed contributions. We call on all Member States to ensure that the Mechanism has the necessary resources to carry out its vitally important mandate.

Mr. President,

The magnitude of the atrocities in Syria under the Assad regime has shocked us over the course of a decade and has served as a painful example of the limits of international justice. It is imperative that we change that. Syria should not be a symbol of impunity any longer. We should seize this historic opportunity to work together and stand united in our pursuit of justice.

Let us honor the victims by ensuring that those responsible for the most serious crimes in Syria are held accountable. Together we can make a difference and extend our support for building a peaceful and prosperous future for Syria, grounded in accountability and international law