Damascus– Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani met on Wednesday with a delegation from the United Nations’ Independent International Mechanism for Syria, reaffirming Damascus’ readiness to cooperate on justice efforts under the condition that accountability processes remain within Syrian territory, according to a statement from the Syrian Foreign Ministry.
The delegation was led by Robert Petit, Head of the Independent International and Impartial Mechanism (IIIM), which was established by the UN General Assembly in December 2016 to investigate and support prosecution of individuals responsible for the most serious crimes under international law committed in Syria since March 2011, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
According to the Syrian Foreign Ministry, both parties underscored the importance of achieving justice in Syria through an impartial and inclusive process. The ministry emphasized that justice must not be imposed externally and reiterated Syria’s rejection of unilateral coercive measures and what it described as violations against the Syrian people.
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Al-Shibani stressed that “accountability centres must be located within Syrian territory” and that the government in Damascus is willing to cooperate with the UN mechanism in ways that “serve the path of justice and provide redress to victims.”
The IIIM, which does not have judicial authority itself, has worked independently from outside Syria due to a longstanding refusal by President Bashar al-Assad’s government to grant it access to the country. Nevertheless, it has collected substantial evidence over the years, relying on documents, witness testimonies, and digital records. During a December 2024 visit to Damascus, Petit stated the mechanism had gathered “an unprecedented volume of evidence of systematic and uniquely severe crimes” committed under Assad’s rule.
Calls for Transitional Justice
The meeting comes amid growing domestic calls for accountability. Earlier this week, the Syrian Artists Syndicate issued a public statement urging the launch of a transitional justice process. The syndicate described justice as a “cornerstone for civil peace” and emphasized the role of art in bridging the deep societal divides that have emerged from over a decade of conflict.
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“In the face of years of systematic repression, grave human rights abuses, and persistent impunity, Syrians are in desperate need of a state built on law and justice,” the syndicate said in a statement posted on its official Facebook page.
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