UN’s Geir Pedersen holds intensive talks on Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen has been recently holding intensive discussions over developments in the Syrian issue with a number of influential actors, including Iran, Russia, Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, seeking to hold similar talks with Turkish officials.
Pedersen said in a series of tweets that he “concluded comprehensive discussions” on Syria with the Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and Senior Assistant to the Iranian Foreign Minister for Special Political Affairs, Ali Asghar Khaji.
He expressed appreciation for Iran’s “assessment of recent diplomatic developments on Syria & region, & support for renewing UN-facilitated Constitutional Committee.”
On Sunday, Pederson visited the Iranian capital, Tehran, to discuss Syria.
During the talks, Pedersen and Khaji reviewed the latest developments in the Syrian arena, especially the recent quartet meeting in Moscow, which brought together the foreign ministers of Syria, Iran, Russia and Turkey.
He noted that he discussed the Syrian issue in “recent contacts” with senior Russian officials following other phone calls with “Saudi FM Faisal bin Farhan & Egyptian FM Shoukry, & earlier call w/ Jordanian FM Safadi.”
He stressed that he would continue “discussing these issues w/ senior Turkish officials,” according to the tweet.
He said, “UN/Astana players’ coordination important to see Constitutional Committee resume & the political process move forward.”
He confirmed that the “UN will continue to work with all partners – the Syrian parties, the Arab players, the Astana players, & the Western players – to seek to unblock genuine CBMs & a renewed political process in line w/SCR 2254.”
On May 7, Arab foreign ministers agreed to return Syria to its seat in the Arab League after over a decade of suspension for the Syrian government’s brutality against its own people.