Security Council resolution 2254 (2015) [on the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic]
Symbol: S/RES/2254 (2015)
Date: 2015-12-18
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/70 [222] SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC SITUATION
Subjects: International Syria Support Group|Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Organization)|Qaida (Organization)|Action Group for Syria Final Communiqué (2012)|INTERNAL SECURITY|HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE|SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC|TERRORISM|COUNTER-TERRORISM|RELIEF CORRIDORS|HUMAN RIGHTS IN ARMED CONFLICTS
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: ANGOLA
vote: yes
country: CHAD
vote: yes
country: CHILE
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: JORDAN
vote: yes
country: LITHUANIA
vote: yes
country: MALAYSIA
vote: yes
country: NEW ZEALAND
vote: yes
country: NIGERIA
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SPAIN
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes
country: VENEZUELA (BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF)
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                    S/RES/2254 (2015)
               Security Council                                                  Distr.: General
                                                                                 18 December 2015




               Resolution 2254 (2015)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 7588th meeting, on
               18 December 2015

                    The Security Council,
                    Recalling its resolutions 2042 (2012), 2043 (2012), 2118 (2013), 2139 (2014),
               2165 (2014), 2170 (2014), 2175 (2014), 2178 (2014), 2191 (2014), 2199 (2015),
               2235 (2015), and 2249 (2015) and Presidential Statements of 3 August 2011
               (S/PRST/2011/16), 21 March 2012 (S/PRST/2012/6), 5 April 2012
               (S/PRST/2012/10), 2 October 2013 (S/PRST/2013/15), 24 April 2015
               (S/PRST/2015/10) and 17 August 2015 (S/PRST/2015/15),
                      Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and
               territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic, and to the purposes and principles
               of the Charter of the United Nations,
                     Expressing its gravest concern at the continued suffering of the Syrian people,
               the dire and deteriorating humanitarian situation, the ongoing conflict and its
               persistent and brutal violence, the negative impact of terrorism and violent extremist
               ideology in support of terrorism, the destabilizing effect of the crisis on the region
               and beyond, including the resulting increase in terrorists drawn to the fighting in
               Syria, the physical destruction in the country, and increasing sectarianism, and
               underscoring that the situation will continue to deteriorate in the absence of a
               political solution,
                     Recalling its demand that all parties take all appropriate steps to protect
               civilians, including members of ethnic, religious and confessional communities, and
               stresses that, in this regard, the primary responsibility to protect its population lies
               with the Syrian authorities,
                     Reiterating that the only sustainable solution to the current crisis in Syria is
               through an inclusive and Syrian-led political process that meets the legitimate
               aspirations of the Syrian people, with a view to full implementation of the Geneva
               Communiqué of 30 June 2012 as endorsed by resolution 2118 (2013), including
               through the establishment of an inclusive transitional governing body with full
               executive powers, which shall be formed on the basis of mutual consent while
               ensuring continuity of governmental institutions,
                   Encouraging, in this regard, the diplomatic efforts of the International Syria
               Support Group (ISSG) to help bring an end to the conflict in Syria,

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                    Commending the commitment of the ISSG, as set forth in the Joint Statement
               on the outcome of the multilateral talks on Syria in Vienna of 30 October 2015 and
               the Statement of the ISSG of 14 November 2015 (hereinafter the “Vienna
               Statements”), to ensure a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political transition based on
               the Geneva Communiqué in its entirety, and emphasizing the urgency for all parties
               in Syria to work diligently and constructively towards this goal,
                     Urging all parties to the UN-facilitated political process to adhere to the
               principles identified by the ISSG, including commitments to Syr ia’s unity,
               independence, territorial integrity, and non-sectarian character, to ensuring
               continuity of governmental institutions, to protecting the rights of all Syrians,
               regardless of ethnicity or religious denomination, and to ensuring humanitarian
               access throughout the country,
                     Encouraging the meaningful participation of women in the UN -facilitated
               political process for Syria,
                    Bearing in mind the goal to bring together the broadest possible spectrum of
               the opposition, chosen by Syrians, who will decide their negotiation representatives
               and define their negotiation positions so as to enable the political process to begin,
               taking note of the meetings in Moscow and Cairo and other initiatives to this end,
               and noting in particular the usefulness of the meeting in Riyadh on 9-11 December
               2015, whose outcomes contribute to the preparation of negotiations under
               UN auspices on a political settlement of the conflict, in accordance with the Geneva
               Communique and the “Vienna Statements”, and looking forward to the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria finalizing efforts to this end,
                     1.    Reconfirms its endorsement of the Geneva Communiqué of 30 June
               2012, endorses the “Vienna Statements” in pursuit of the full implementation of the
               Geneva Communiqué, as the basis for a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political
               transition in order to end the conflict in Syria, and stresses that the Syrian people
               will decide the future of Syria;
                     2.   Requests the Secretary-General, through his good offices and the efforts
               of his Special Envoy for Syria, to convene representatives of the Syrian government
               and the opposition to engage in formal negotiations on a political transition process
               on an urgent basis, with a target of early January 2016 for the initiation of talks,
               pursuant to the Geneva Communiqué, consistent with the 14 November 2015 ISSG
               Statement, with a view to a lasting political settlement of the crisis;
                    3.    Acknowledges the role of the ISSG as the central platform to facilitate
               the United Nations’ efforts to achieve a lasting political settlement in Syria;
                     4.    Expresses its support, in this regard, for a Syrian-led political process
               that is facilitated by the United Nations and, within a target of six months,
               establishes credible, inclusive and non-sectarian governance and sets a schedule and
               process for drafting a new constitution, and further expresses its support for free
               and fair elections, pursuant to the new constitution, to be held within 18 months and
               administered under supervision of the United Nations, to the satisfaction of the
               governance and to the highest international standards of transparency and
               accountability, with all Syrians, including members of the diaspora, eligible to
               participate, as set forth in the 14 November 2015 ISSG Statement;




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                  5.   Acknowledges the close linkage between a ceasefire and a parallel
           political process, pursuant to the 2012 Geneva Communiqué, and that both
           initiatives should move ahead expeditiously, and in this regard expresses its support
           for a nationwide ceasefire in Syria, which the ISSG has committed to support and
           assist in implementing, to come into effect as soon as the representatives of the
           Syrian government and the opposition have begun initial steps towards a political
           transition under UN auspices, on the basis of the Geneva Communiqué, as set forth
           in the 14 November 2015 ISSG Statement, and to do so on an urgent basis;
                6.    Requests the Secretary-General to lead the effort, through the office of
           his Special Envoy and in consultation with relevant parties, to determine the
           modalities and requirements of a ceasefire as well as continue planning for the
           support of ceasefire implementation, and urges Member States, in particular
           members of the ISSG, to support and accelerate all efforts to achieve a ceasefire,
           including through pressing all relevant parties to agree and adhere to such a
           ceasefire;
                7.    Emphasizes the need for a ceasefire monitoring, verification and
           reporting mechanism, requests the Secretary-General to report to the Security
           Council on options for such a mechanism that it can support, as soon as possible and
           no later than one month after the adoption of this resolution, and encourages
           Member States, including members of the Security Council, to provide assistance,
           including through expertise and in-kind contributions, to support such a mechanism;
                 8.   Reiterates its call in resolution 2249 (2015) for Member States to prevent
           and suppress terrorist acts committed specifically by Islamic State in Iraq and the
           Levant (ISIL, also known as Da’esh), Al-Nusra Front (ANF), and all other
           individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with Al Qaeda or ISIL,
           and other terrorist groups, as designated by the Security Council, and as may further
           be agreed by the ISSG and determined by the Security Council, pursuant to the
           Statement of the ISSG of 14 November 2015, and to eradicate the safe haven they
           have established over significant parts of Syria, and notes that the aforementioned
           ceasefire will not apply to offensive or defensive actions against these individuals,
           groups, undertakings and entities, as set forth in the 14 November 2015 ISSG
           Statement;
                9.   Welcomes the effort that was conducted by the government of Jordan to
           help develop a common understanding within the ISSG of individuals and groups
           for possible determination as terrorists and will consider expeditiously the
           recommendation of the ISSG for the purpose of determining terrorist groups;
                 10. Emphasizes the need for all parties in Syria to take confidence building
           measures to contribute to the viability of a political process and a lasting ceasefire,
           and calls on all states to use their influence with the government of Syria and the
           Syrian opposition to advance the peace process, confidence building measures and
           steps towards a ceasefire;
                 11. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council, as soon as
           possible and no later than one month after the adoption of this resolution, on options
           for further confidence building measures;
                12. Calls on the parties to immediately allow humanitarian agencies rapid,
           safe and unhindered access throughout Syria by most direct routes, allow
           immediate, humanitarian assistance to reach all people in need, in particular in al l


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               besieged and hard-to-reach areas, release any arbitrarily detained persons,
               particularly women and children, calls on ISSG states to use their influence
               immediately to these ends, and demands the full implementation of resolutions 2139
               (2014), 2165 (2014), 2191 (2014) and any other applicable resolutions;
                     13. Demands that all parties immediately cease any attacks against civilians
               and civilian objects as such, including attacks against medical facilities and
               personnel, and any indiscriminate use of weapons, including through shelling and
               aerial bombardment, welcomes the commitment by the ISSG to press the parties in
               this regard, and further demands that all parties immediately comply with their
               obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and
               international human rights law as applicable;
                     14. Underscores the critical need to build conditions for the safe and
               voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their home areas
               and the rehabilitation of affected areas, in accordance with international law,
               including applicable provisions of the Convention and Protocol Relating to the
               Status of Refugees, and taking into account the interests of those countries hosting
               refugees, urges Member States to provide assistance in this regard, looks forward to
               the London Conference on Syria in February 2016, hosted by the United Kingdom,
               Germany, Kuwait, Norway and the United Nations, as an important contribution to
               this endeavour, and further expresses its support to the post-conflict reconstruction
               and rehabilitation of Syria;
                     15. Requests that the Secretary-General report back to the Security Council
               on the implementation of this resolution, including on progress of the UN -facilitated
               political process, within 60 days;
                    16.   Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.




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