UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ expected visit to Damascus on Friday, according to local media reports, marks a significant diplomatic development in relations between the United Nations and Syria.
The visit is the first by a UN secretary-general to Damascus since 2009, when former UN chief Ban Ki-moon visited the country.
Guterres’ program includes official talks with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, as well as meetings with representatives of civil society and local community institutions.
The visit also includes a field tour to inspect the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), stationed in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, as part of efforts to monitor commitments under the ceasefire agreement.
On Tuesday, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Guterres would visit Syria this week at the invitation of its government and meet in Damascus with President al-Sharaa and several officials, including al-Shaibani, without specifying the date of the visit.
