Pederson: Most of the solution issues in Syria are not in the hands of the Syrians

Yesterday, Monday, during a session of the UN Security Council, on the developments in the situation in Syria, coinciding with the tenth anniversary of the Syrian revolution, the UN special envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen confirmed that a political solution is the only solution in Syria.

The UN envoy added that a solution is still possible if there is sincere engagement by international forces with the aim of finding a peaceful settlement. “The conflict in Syria has become an international conflict, and most of the issues to solve it are not in the hands of the Syrians.”

Pederson added, “Today has passed 10 years since the Syrian conflict.. 10 years have been the duration of the first and second world wars, and I regret that we have not been able to find an end to this conflict so far.”

The UN envoy continued: “In the ten years of the conflict, the Syrians witnessed five foreign armies fighting over their country, and fighters from almost all parts of the world entered to participate in the fighting. Syria was devastated by air strikes, barrel bombs, hand explosives and the horrors of chemical weapons.”

He also added, “This people was deliberately deprived of humanitarian aid and starved, and 9 out of 10 Syrians suffer from poverty, and the country’s wealth is no longer worthless.”

The UN envoy warned in his testimony that “the war in Syria continues on a daily basis, and a storm of conflict may start, especially since this year witnessed intense air attacks and bombing from all Syrian and foreign parties, and terrorist groups are still active.”

Pederson also called on the Syrian parties to “the necessity of the political will required to implement Security Council Resolution 2254,” stressing that “this will not be achieved unless the settlement process is supported by constructive international diplomacy, because most of the issues related to this conflict are not in the hands of the Syrians.”

Pedersen explained that his mission as a UN envoy to Syria is not easy “due to the suspicion that exists between the Syrian parties and regional and international parties and the deep divisions.”

He added, “What we need today is the launch of a new dialogue or international formula, and we need clear and gradual steps that are mutually implemented by all parties.”

The UN envoy stated that the meetings of the Syrian Constitutional Committee “alone cannot solve this conflict,” adding: “It is necessary to carefully prepare for a sixth round of the mini-constitutional committee meetings, so that there are different negotiations this time, and that its working methods are clear and with cooperation between the two co-chairs “.

The UN envoy pointed out that those who committed war crimes in Syria had escaped impunity, and that the international community had failed to rid the Syrians of the war, and called for the safe and voluntary return of Syrian refugees.