UN special envoy welcomes al-Assad’s amnesty to free Syrians on terrorism charges
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – UN special envoy Geir Pedersen welcomed on Sunday President Bashar al-Assad’s general amnesty aimed at freeing thousands of Syrians convicted on terrorism charges.
President Bashar al-Assad has decreed several amnesties during the country’s devastating 11-year war. However, the latest in April was the most comprehensive related to terrorism charges since the conflict began, rights activists said.
Pedersen and his accompanying delegation arrived in the Syrian capital, Damascus on Saturday. Today, he discussed with the Syrian Foreign Minister, Faisal Mekdad , the arrangements for holding the eighth constitutional round.
Pedersen, speaking to reporters in Damascus after a meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, said he had been briefed “in quite some detail” on the latest measure.
“That amnesty has potential, and we are looking forward to seeing how it develops,” Pedersen said.
Pedersen stated that the meeting “was very good, as we discussed the files related to UN Resolution 2254. We also discussed the economic and social challenges facing the Syrian people, as well as the file of the internally displaced persons and refugees.”