New UN Envoy on Syria Talks Confirms Russia Is Playing a Key Role

FROM EIR DAILY ALERT

New UN Envoy on Syria Talks Confirms Russia Is Playing a Key Role

Jan. 21, 2019 (EIRNS)—Geir Pedersen, the UN Secretary General’s new Special Envoy for Syria, said today in Moscow that Russia is playing a key role in the settlement of the Syrian conflict. Pedersen made his statement during a meeting with Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, TASS reported.

Earlier in the day, when Pedersen had met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Lavrov had told him:

“We definitely highly value our cooperation in the Astana format and with the UN in promoting the political process in correspondence with [UN Security Council’s] Resolution 2254. So, we hope for continuity and your working experience both in the structures of your homeland and international organizations, including the UN.”

Lavrov highlighted the contribution of the previous UN envoy, Staffan di Mistura, to the implementation of Resolution 2254, which had made it possible to achieve numerous results “on land” in Syria, including humanitarian issues.

Lavrov also said that there is a growing understanding in the region that it is necessary to apply more efforts now to create conditions to facilitate the return of Syrian citizens who had had to leave the country. “Just a few days ago, participants in the meeting of the League of Arab States for economic issues spoke in favor of supporting Syria, so that Syrian refugees could return faster,” he stated.