Conference

Syria: Mr Guterres (UN), “find new ways to make real progress towards a political solution”

(from New York) A video message was sent yesterday by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to the UN and EU leaders and high representatives from over 85 countries who attended a conference in Brussels entitled “Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region”. Mr Guterres started by focusing on the dramatic impact of the Syrian conflict, which has now entered its eighth year: more than 13 million people living in desperate conditions, exposed to relentless violence and persistent violations of international law; some 5.6 million displaced persons hosted in neighbouring countries and unsure of when they will be able to return; attacks on medical facilities and health-care providers. The UN secretary-general said he is “particularly disturbed” by the reported use of chemical weapons against civilians and public infrastructure, while millions of children “have never known peace and have been deprived of their​​ right to an education and ​​robbed of their chance to contribute to a better future for their country”. Mr Guterres spoke of “depths of depravity” referring to the 700,000 people who have been displaced since the beginning of the year and violence in eastern Ghouta, Afrin, Idleb. In his video message, the secretary-general praised the work of humanitarian personnel, “the vast majority of whom are Syrian”, who “are working tirelessly and bravely to save lives”. They need a clear demonstration of support from the international community and, the UN secretary-general recalled, the recent Security Council retreat in Sweden pledged a strong commitment to overcoming the obstacles to the delivery of aid to all Syrians.

“I will continue to engage with Member States to find new ways to make real progress towards a genuine and credible political solution that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people to dignity and freedom”, Mr Guterres concluded, encouraging the creation of “a democratic and non-sectarian State based on political pluralism and equal citizenship irrespective of religion, ethnicity and gender”. And his special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, will be present to facilitate the resumption of talks.