Pakistan, July 23 -- Commending Syria's leaders for steering the country towards stability, Pakistan has called on the international community to "back this process by respecting Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity".

"The new leadership has demonstrated determination in steering the nation toward stability, rebuilding national institutions and laying the foundations for a prosperous future," Syed Tareq Fatemi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, told the UN Security Council on Tuesday.

Speaking in a debate on the situation in Syria, he said that Syrian people now have an opportunity to "turn the page," after years of conflict.

According to UN reports, Syria has undergone major political and social shifts since a popular ...