Syria crisis: Nothing can stop the peaceful transition, says UN Special Envoy
“Syria is currently at a crossroads with great opportunities for us but also serious risks. And we really need to look at both,” said Geir Pedersen, United Nations Special Envoy for Syria. “Of course, we know that HTS is currently the dominant group in control of Damascus, but it’s important to remember they are not the only armed group in Damascus.”
Amid images of jubilant scenes on the capital’s streets following the end of the Assad regime, Mr Pedersen warned that the transfer of power was accompanied by reports of robberies and “invasion of public buildings”. community or private home. But this seems to have stopped and that is a good thing,” he told journalists in Geneva.
The chance for peace has disappeared
Beyond Damascus, the situation remains less certain, the legacy of the 13-year war in Syria has drawn in regional and international actors, hindering efforts towards peace led by the United Nations. Quoc leads.
“The conflict in the northeast is not over; There have been clashes between the Syrian National Army, opposition groups and rebel forces. [Syrian Democratic Forces]. Obviously we are calling for calm in this area,” the UN Special Envoy said.
Turning to multiple reports of Israeli troops moving into the occupied Golan Heights and shelling targets inside Syria, Mr. Pedersen emphasized: “This needs to stop.”
He added: “I am not in contact with the Israelis, but of course, the United Nations in New York is. And you know, peacekeepers in the Golan Heights still have daily contact with Israelis. And of course, the message from New York was the same – that What we are seeing is a violation of the 1974 withdrawal agreement.”
Diplomacy is high risk
The veteran negotiator, a Norwegian national, also provided insight into how the transition of power is unfolding in Syria, through a key diplomatic exchange during his closed-door meeting with the national council. Security Council at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Monday night.
“When I addressed the Security Council yesterday, I received a text message from the Syrian ambassador to the United Nations in New York. And then he spoke to me on behalf of the government in Damascus. So it still works.”
Mr. Pedersen emphasized that there are still many unclear things about HTS and its motives. [Abu Mohammad al] “Jolani himself mentioned this in an interview with the American news network CNN that they are discussing the possibility of dismantling HTS. So again, let me emphasize that we are still in what we call a very fluid period and things are not yet stable. There is a real opportunity for change, but this opportunity needs to be seized by Syrians themselves and supported by the United Nations and the international community.”
The potential sticking point in conducting international dialogue with HTS – which is leading the opposition advance into Damascus through Aleppo, Hama and Homs – is that it is still considered a group by the Security Council. terrorism. The forum’s core resolution on Syria – No. 2254 – adopted unanimously in December 2015, explicitly calls on Member States to “prevent and deter acts of terrorism specifically carried out by ” the predecessor of HTS, Al-Nusra Front.
terrorist list
Mr. Pedersen suggested that this terrorist list may be about to change. “You have to look at the facts and see what has happened over the past nine years. It has been 9 years since that resolution was passed and the reality so far is that HTS as well as other armed groups have sent good messages to the Syrian people; They sent a message of solidarity, of inclusiveness and frankly, we were also seeing in Aleppo and in Hama, we were also seeing, you know, calming things on the ground.”
As many Syrians exiled by the war now prepare to return home, the UN Special Envoy emphasized the common wishes of the foreign ministers he met in Doha at the weekend – from Türkiye, Russia, Iran and many Arab nations – want Damascus’s new rulers to take action. about their initial promising statements supporting a peaceful transfer of power. And for the international community to ensure that this can happen.
He added: “When I left Doha, a Syrian family came to see me, they lived in Sweden and they said, ‘Mr. Pedersen, you know, we’re very hopeful, we know there are a lot of challenges. We left Hama 10 years ago, we would love to go back. We hope that will be possible.” And I think that’s really what a lot of Syrians are hoping for today.”
