Pedersen Calls for Ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon to Protect Syria from Regional Escalation
The UN Envoy for Syrian Settlement, Geir Pedersen, emphasized the immediate need for a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, highlighting the importance of preventing Syria from being dragged into the escalating conflict in the region, which has reached a critical juncture.
Pedersen stated in a media briefing in Damascus following discussions with Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad: “It is evident that we have all reached a very critical moment in the region, and I believe we are all closely monitoring what is happening in Gaza and Lebanon.”
He added: “My message has always been that there is an urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, and that Syria should not be further drawn into the ongoing conflict.”
Pedersen continued:
“I agreed with Minister Mekdad that the moment is extremely critical, and we concur on the
necessity to halt the escalation because this is of utmost importance. We stressed the need for the
international community to act when it comes to the situations in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, and
we also noted the rising tensions in Iraq.”
He said: “Here, I see the level of criticality the situation has reached, which is why we must
continue to work on de-escalation. We also discussed many previous issues that need to be
followed up and resolved through seeking reliable measures. We must not forget that over 40,000 Syrian refugees have returned from Lebanon to their homeland, which places a heavy burden on
the Syrian government and the international community. These returnees need assistance,
protection, and security.”
Pedersen further clarified: “We see here the importance of the international community taking its
responsibility in this aspect and continuing to fund Syria under these critical conditions. We must
not lose sight of the overall picture, which is that Syria needs to return to stability. To achieve this, we must find ways to understand all issues, therefore addressing the political and security
situation, restoring Syrian sovereignty and independence, dealing with economic sanctions,
addressing reconstruction issues, and handling the detainees’ file.”
The UN Envoy concluded: “We discussed some new ideas, and I hope we can provide some
positive updates in the near future.”
Source: RT
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