Pedersen sheds light on Syrians’ suffering, urges political solution
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – In a UN Security Council session on Wednesday, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria Geir Pedersen called on the international community to address the miserable situation in Syria, stressing that it is far from over.
Pedersen said that he called for the council to renew the UN resolution No. 2585 (2021), which authorizes cross-border aid to Syria, given the population’s desperate need for aid.
He also asked for a nationwide ceasefire, a cooperative approach to countering terrorist organizations, and insisted that a political settlement is the only sustainable way to end the suffering of Syrians.
Pedersen said that he met with key players to advance the UN resolution No. 2254, which calls for a ceasefire and political solution in Syria, and that he made efforts to bring together the Constitutional Committee, which will convene in Geneva on July 25 in the ninth round of talks.
The special envoy warned that the economic crisis could further deepen the population’s suffering and lead to increased social unrest in Syria, as over 90% of the Syrians live below poverty line, according to UN statistic.
Regarding the situation of the detainees, the abductees, and the missing, he said he has long called on parties to take unilateral action at a meaningful scale, citing his various engagements with Syrian parties and authorities, as well as human rights organizations and victims and family associations.
“My message is simple: Do not forget Syria,” he said, urging the international community to find unity on Syria act immediately to find a political solution in line with resolution 2254.
Dmitry A. Polyanskiy, Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN, said that to resolve the Syrian crisis, the illegal foreign military presence in Syria must end, in addition to the repeated Israeli airstrikes. He said the tragic economic and humanitarian situation in Syria is a direct result of the destructive sanctions imposed by the US and EU.
Richard M. Mills Jr., Deputy Representative of the US to the UN, said that his delegation supports the international, impartial and independent mechanism to end the suffering and urges implementation of resolution 2254. He expressed concern over any potential military operation by Turkey on northern Syria, calling for a nationwide ceasefire.
Wadid Benaabou, Member of the Permanent Mission of France to the UN, voiced concerns over the latest Turkish threats of launching an offensive in northern Syria, warning that it would threaten the efforts made by the US-led coalition in its fight against the Islamic State Organization (ISIS).