YouSaid · the spoken record

De Mistura

lines on the record: 707
first: 2008-01-21
most recent: 2018-12-20
sittings or episodes: 34
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“I also look forward to the occasion of the forthcoming opening of the seventy-second session of the General Assembly to see further opportunities and initiatives related to an accelerated political process on Syria. I would like to summarize the foregoing so that we have some points on our radar screens that may help us to focus. First, we have had today's Security Council meeting, and the Council will hold its own deliberations. Next, the Astana meeting is due to take place, and we want it to succeed and look at additional de-escalation areas. Then there is the opportunity that all of us, including Council members, will have at the opening of the seventy-second session of the General Assembly to promote and push for discussions and initiatives related to accelerating the political process on Syria.”
2017-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8036 (2017) · source
“It is my hope that both the Syrian Government and the opposition will come to Geneva then to engage in formal negotiations. This is a time for realism and focus, for shifting from the logic ofwar to that ofnegotiation, and for putting the interests of the Syrian people first. IfI could identify one thing above all that can make a difference, it would be a sense ofunity ofpurpose internationally with clear priorities and common goals. We need therefore to find creative ways to proceed along the path of peace that the Security Council, through resolution 2254 (2015), has long sought to advance. With that, and our common encouragement to the Syrians in this regard, we can make a real difference in this tragic conflict.”
2017-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8036 (2017) · source
“Thirdly, it will be vital for those with influence on the Government of Syria to assess the situation carefully and signal a genuine readiness for dialogue and inclusion on the political future of Syria. F ourthly, I appreciate the continued engagement and support of the European Union and view the meeting it intends to host during the opening ofthe seventy-second session of the General Assembly as an opportunity to address future resilience and stabilization efforts and support the humanitarian needs of civilians. Bearing all of this mind, it is my intention to reconvene the formal intra-Syrian talks in Geneva later in October. In this way, we are giving time for the dynamics I have just described to reach a further stage of maturity.”
2017-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8036 (2017) · source
“The next Astana meeting, now scheduled for 14 and 15 September * and related meetings elsewhere, both in Geneva and Amman, as we have seen - should help to address these matters, and I and my team will be there, in Astana, to help. Secondly, it will be important for Saudi Arabia and all who have influence with the opposition to focus, as they are currently doing, on a single plan to foster the cohesion and realism of the opposition. On our side, we shall be actively involved in those efforts as well, while, let me reiterate, my own Office stands ready to convene further technical talks to support what Saudi Arabia has been trying to do in unifying the opposition.”
2017-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8036 (2017) · source
“I count on the continued support of the Women's Advisory Board to advise me and my team to ensure the meaningful representation of diverse women's voices and women's rights perspectives in the political process as we move forward. We hope to see the same in the delegations of both the opposition and the Government. So how do we now bring all this activity together into one common effort in the coming months to genuinely advance a political solution? What is the path forward? First, Russia, Iran, Turkey and others - including the United States of America, Egypt and Jordan - will need to keep working actively, as they have been doing, on de-escalation.”
2017-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8036 (2017) · source
“This discussion involved over 120 civil-society actors and networks, establishing the foundation for future consultations in Geneva. It is becoming increasingly clear from these consultations that regardless of their perceived differences - and they do have differences - all Syrians are impatient for the conflict to end and the political process to deliver. We will continue to encourage and facilitate their collective work. Let me also update the Council on the Syrian Women's Advisory Board. Following its regular contributions to the work that was done during the seventh round of intra-Syrian talks, the 12-member board is now currently undergoing a rotation exercise to ensure continuous diversity of perspectives.”
2017-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8036 (2017) · source
“Ultimately, it will only be Syrians who determine the future of their country - we know that - but an internationally supported and inclusive political process will be required to lay the foundation for a sustainable future and for genuine reconstruction. It is in the profound interests of the long-suffering people of Syria that the Government and the opposition realize that the time has come to engage in more serious and concrete negotiations. In this regard, I would like to note that we are not only focused on the Government and opposition, but are listening to the full range of Syrian stakeholders. Immediately after the seventh round of our own talks, our own Office related to the Civil Society Support Room completed regional consultations in Beirut, Gaziantep and Amman.”
2017-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8036 (2017) · source
“The Government has indicated that it would be prepared to intensify its engagement with a unified opposition and with clarity on principles that govern the political process. But there are times when strong public signals are sent that indicate an exclusively military approach, and a dismissal of the prospects of any meaningful political negotiation. However, we have seen too many instances in other conflicts where, despite military advances, a Government has not able to turn those gains into a sustainable post-conflict situation, due to unmetpolitical grievance and lack of genuine inclusion of all in the future of the country. That is why we are convinced that both the opposition and the Government have, or should have, a genuine interest now in actually engaging in serious discussions.”
2017-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8036 (2017) · source
“Now we need to bring them to a higher level. I am grateful to Saudi Arabia for taking the initiative to convene a new, more inclusive meeting of the opposition i a Riyadh 2 conference as it is called, including with the hosting of a preparatory meeting last week. Our technical work and political support will be important contributions to those efforts. We will work closely with Saudi Arabia and all who have traditionally supported or engaged with the opposition in this pursuit. I recall in this respect that resolution 2254 (2015) encourages me to be active in any finalization effort in this regard. As we counsel fresh thinking and initiatives on the part of the opposition, we may also need urgently to do the same with the Government.”
2017-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8036 (2017) · source
“I briefed the Council last time (see S/PV.7983) on the progress we have made with them in two rounds of United Nations technical talks in Geneva and nearby, at which we saw a lot of important substantive progress. There is not that much distance between them, except on one or two crucial points. That substantive progress should now be used as a springboard for further efforts. Given that many developments and intense discussions are taking place elsewhere between the actors of the opposition, we have refrained from holding further United Nations technical talks in order to give time for these developments to unfold and progress. But time must not be lost. Elevating common technical commonalities to the political level remains an imperative. They have agreed at least on the technical commonalities.”
2017-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8036 (2017) · source
“The developments I have described are the result of a very timely process of prioritization and cooperation among key external players, and a realization among internal players of the need to compromise. The challenge ahead will be to extend this spirit into the political realm. This requires clear and new thinking from the opposition and the Government, and enhanced international cooperation. Let me start with the opposition. The opposition people and representatives who have been invited to the Geneva talks - the High Negotiations Committee, the Cairo platform and the Moscow platform, those which have been specified by name in resolution 2254 (2015) - have important and urgent work to do to develop common negotiating positions and strengthen their own unity. It is high time for that.”
2017-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8036 (2017) · source
“While military operations are under way, rapid, safe and sustained humanitarian access remains essential, as well as the work for the release of the arbitrarily detained persons and at least the shedding of light on the fate of the thousands of disappeared. All parties must also do their utmost to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure while this is happening. As I said, I am sure my colleague and friend, Under-Secretary-General O'Brien - who I would like personally, since this is my last opportunity to do so, to thank him publicly for his immense efforts on Syria - will further address these issues in his briefing on the humanitarian aspects. I also want to thank publicly the United Nations Mine Action Service for its continued readiness to support humanitarian demining efforts in Syria.”
2017-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8036 (2017) · source
“This will also require a very important element: protecting civilians, but that will be addressed, I am sure, by my colleague Stephen O'Brien. As efforts to combat terrorism continue, we are seeing the areas of control of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)/Da'esh being constantly shrunk - something I think everyone welcomes in the ongoing fight against terrorism. While the Government of Syria is proceeding towards Deir ez-Zor, the Lebanese army has advanced against ISIL/Da'esh on the Lebanese side of the border. The Syrian Democratic Forces and the United States-led coalition continue their efforts to eliminate ISIL from Raqqa, while the Russian Federation is supporting the Government of Syria in proceeding towards Deir ez-Zor.”
2017-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8036 (2017) · source
“In Homs, we note the Russian Federation's efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement are continuing. We are, however, worried about reports of shelling and air strikes north of Homs city, which we believe require the guarantors' urgent attention. Meantime, the situation in Idlib is complex and complicated and needs close attention. Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham - or as we all continue to call it, the former Al-Nusra, a terrorist group identified by the Council - has taken over territory from other armed opposition groups in this area. Its stated intention is to set up some kind of new Al-Nursa-dominated administration. It is very important that the Astana guarantors, in liaison with the Government and armed opposition groups, come to a speedy agreement to operationalize the de-escalation zone in Idlib.”
2017-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8036 (2017) · source
“Let me elaborate on how I assess the situation at present, and what we think we can expect in the period ahead in de-escalating violence, in combating terrorism and in advancing the political process. While undoubtedly there is still violence in Syria, the trend of de-escalation and the operationalization of de-escalation zones is indeed continuing. We are encouraged by the calm in the south-west and the opening of a trilateral Amman monitoring centre by the Russian Federation, the United States and Jordan. Meanwhile, following a series of agreements with armed groups, including with the active support of Egypt and the Russian Federation, we have seen a significant reduction of violence in parts of the Ghouta de-escalation zone, although not in all of it.”
2017-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8036 (2017) · source
“Mr. De Mistura: Let me say how pleased I am, Mr. President, that we have been able to hold this briefing before the end of your presidency. I wish a happy Bid to you and everyone around the world. I last briefed the Security Council after the seventh round of the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva, which concluded on 14 July. Since then, we have been active in a range of diplomatic efforts and continuing contacts. I have recently held high-level consultations in Tehran and Paris, and my Deputy Special Envoy Ambassador Ramzy was earlier in Moscow and is currently in Saudi Arabia. Contacts are continuing with other actors as we seek to lay the ground for further rounds of talks that bring the parties into a genuine negotiation.”
2017-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8036 (2017) · source
“That is all in support of the Astana de-escalation efforts and the intra-Syrian Geneva-based political process. I hope that a combination of all those elements will help shape an environment that is conducive to the next round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva in the coming months and bring us one step closer on the journey to our shared goal of implementing the relevant Security Council resolutions and, in particular resolution 2254 (2015). All political efforts of the United Nations are directed towards that end and, with the guidance of the Secretary-General, we continue to count on the strong support of all members of the Security Council, as a whole.”
2017-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7983 (2017) · source
“We note that the fight against terrorists appears to be proceeding with Da'esh under pressure and in retreat in various locations in Syria. At the same time, incidents between the international coalition to counter Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant/Da'esh and forces of the Government of Syria and its allies, including the downing of a Syrian military plane, have taken place. As I see it, we hope that the ideal trajectory over the coming two weeks could be - indeed, would be - progress in Astana on 4 and 5 July; a further set ofjoint technical aspect meetings with opposition groups during that same week; and continuing discussion and dialogue among the main international stakeholders, including at the Group of 20 Summit in Hamburg on 7 and 8 July, at which the issue of Syria will most certainly be discussed.”
2017-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7983 (2017) · source
“On the other hand, we must recognize that regrettably, the general significant improvement of the security situation has not yielded equally significant progress in providing humanitarian access to areas where needs are greatest. The support of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) co-chairs and of other members of the ISSG has been helpful and efforts continue. However, let us be honest - much more needs to be done and urgently to enable safe, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access to all Syrians, wherever they are, in particular hard-to-reach areas. Let me also stress the importance ofmoving forward on the issues of detainees, abductees, missing people and on the important issue of humanitarian demining. In that regard, I would like to thank the United Nations Mine Action Service for its continuing engagement.”
2017-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7983 (2017) · source
“I also expressed the hope that the discussions aimed at finding a suitable formula for addressing the difficult situations that have emerged in the southern part of Syria will also yield positive results. As we plan for the Geneva intra-Syrian talks and as the Astana guarantors work towards de-escalation, let us recall what has been achieved and some of the challenges that remain on the ground. Since the three guarantor States signed the de-escalation memorandum in Astana on 4 May, the level of violence has clearly decreased. Hundreds of Syrian lives continue to be spared every week, and many towns have returned to some degree of normalcy. That is a good general trend, but we do not see that same good trend everywhere. In some areas, the fighting and violence have continued and, in fact, intensified.”
2017-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7983 (2017) · source
“I am aware of the genuine efforts currently being undertaken to try to end and overcome the remaining obstacles, as was witnessed by my own team of experts from my own Office during the recently held technical-level meeting of the joint working group on de-escalation in Moscow. The United Nations team continues to stand ready to provide technical advice whenever and wherever needed because we need success in Astana, just as Astana desperately needs success in the Geneva political process so as to consolidate what we are all trying to do. Let us therefore give de-escalation a fair chance to succeed because that is what people are asking so as to further decrease the violence and enable confidence-building.”
2017-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7983 (2017) · source
“The more that we engage with such interlocutors, the more we are convinced that civil society will be critical to preserving and regenerating the social cohesion of a country that for too long has been torn apart by war. As we advance the overall political effort unfolding under the auspices of the United Nations in Geneva, the efforts of the three guarantors of the Astana process continue to finalize modalities for the implementation of the memorandum of understanding on the four de-escalation zones that they concluded on 4 May. As mentioned, a meeting of the guarantors is planned to take place in Astana on 4 and 5 July. I plan to be present at that meeting. With every week that passes, as we know, without a final arrangement to finalize those zones, the fragility of the ceasefire regime and the risk posed by that fragility increase.”
2017-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7983 (2017) · source
“Both during and between the upcoming rounds of formal talks and expert meetings, my team will continue to closely engage with the members of the Syrian Women's Advisory Board and civil society support groups and listen to their own suggestions and practical advice. In particular, my team and I continue to strive to engage and give priority to more women's organizations, including those working across and inside Syria during and between rounds of intra-Syrian talks. In that context, I should note that, following the last round of intra-Syrian talks, we initiated our civil society role, which allowed us to consult with more than 50 civil society organizations and experts from all walks of life in various areas of expertise from both within and outside Syria.”
2017-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7983 (2017) · source
“I am giving consideration, in fact, to sharing some of my own thinking on certain issues so as to stimulate discussions among the parties. If the environment is propitious, I am also ready to facilitate direct talks between the Government and the opposition and hopefully unify the opposition in those talks, either at the formal or technical level. That is something that, on more than one occasion, all sides have stated that they want, and I hope that conditions are being established that could enable such a scenario. I also believe that it is important to aim for a further round of talks near the end of August or the beginning of September in advance of the seventy-second session of the General Assembly in September.”
2017-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7983 (2017) · source
“I therefore look forward to experts from my team continuing during the seventh round the engagement that began with experts from the Government during the sixth round. Of course, the United Nations remains ready to engage with the Government experts at any mutually convenient time, including before and after formal talks. In my formal invitation to the forthcoming round of the intra-Syrian talks, I encouraged invitees to prepare actively. I therefore look forward to their engaging in an intensified set of discussions on issues across all four baskets: Governance issues, constitutional issues, electoral issues and counter-terrorism, security- governance and medium-term confidence-building issues. I hope that it will be possible to accelerate the peace talks.”
2017-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7983 (2017) · source
“We hope that the Security Council will help us support the three groups in that regard so as to show unity. The participants felt that additional work could yield even more productive results. My Office has accordingly invited them to participate next week in a further set of joint meetings within the framework of the consultative process on constitutional and legal issues ahead of the seventh round of formal intra-Syrian talks to take place in July. Members will recall that the Government of Syria ~ which was, by the way, the first to commit to the technical process - communicated to me that it would participate in expert meetings within the framework of the technical consultations process during formal sessions of the intra-Syrian talks, but not outside those formal occasions.”
2017-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7983 (2017) · source
“The opposition experts worked to develop joint technical options with regard to the schedule process for drafting a new Constitution and its popular approval. They also discussed the principles involved, covering the substance of what are known as the living 12 points, which we had put forward in the fourth round of talks. The experts also discussed those issues in the context of a negotiated, political transition process within the framework of relevant Security Council resolutions. While such expert meetings are by nature exploratory and non-binding, the joint meeting brought to light welcome similarities and common technical and perhaps even political understanding of various issues and could potentially be the beginning of a greater technical coordination among the three groups.”
2017-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7983 (2017) · source
“We were able to do so separately for at least two days, but since then we have seen a potentially significant new development. On 15 and 16 June, a few days ago, opposition experts from the high-level negotiations committee and the Cairo and the Moscow platforms jointly convened and sat down together in the same room in Geneva at the behest of the United Nations, within the framework of the consultative process. That was the first time ajoint set of United Nations meetings with the opposition invitees in one room had taken place - not only according to protocol but in a context of substantive discussions among them and us, which lasted the entire day. We believe that we must build on that.”
2017-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7983 (2017) · source
“It is also true and well known that everything we do is political, but the particular emphasis in this case was on the words "technical", "experts" and "non-binding in nature". It was and is not designed to act as a negotiating forum to take on the political responsibility of the formal sessions or to take on itself the Syrian people's right to determine the constitutional future of the State of Syria, but it is a serious process because it does prepare for all of that. Council members will recall that both the Government and the three opposition invitees in the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva all agreed last time, pursuant to resolution 2254 (2015), to participate in separate consultations and the consultative process.”
2017-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7983 (2017) · source
“Some time ago, as Council members will remember, we had a moment of truth in Afghanistan. This was many years ago. I was around then and some Council members here today were, too. There was a feeling that nothing was moving forward until a certain point, when there was a rush for a conference in Bonn. Much of the preparatory work, which sometimes appears to be tedious or inconclusive, I have been told by those who were part of the Bonn conference, was immediately put into action and utilized as homework prepared for the conference. In a certain way, we are doing something similar, doing our homework as we wait for the real, major Geneva conference, God willing. We made it clear that the consultative process created was technical.”
2017-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7983 (2017) · source
“In the latest round of intra- Syrian talks in Geneva, I announced the establishment of a technical consultative process, which Council members might remember. It was the additional layer that we believe could be very helpful in actually abolishing layers by accelerating the real talks. This technical consultative process was meant to develop relevant options on constitutional and legal issues that would need to be considered and resolved anyway in relation to any proposal or position put forward in the formal sessions. This was designed in fact to help the formal talks make progress more expeditiously due to better preparation by ensuring that any negotiated transitional political process would enjoy solid technical, constitutional and legal foundations. I can offer an example.”
2017-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7983 (2017) · source
“But there have also been some worrying developments that we cannot ignore and upon which I will elaborate. We are at the time of testing whether or not the political will exists for real de-escalation and more meaningful political talks and for moving beyond preparatory talks. Throughout this period, the United Nations has been quite active, convening joint technical meetings with opposition experts seeking to support the efforts of the Astana guarantors on de-escalation, consulting widely, including in Moscow and Paris, and with many others, laying the basis for a new round of Geneva talks, and holding consultations with our colleagues in the European Union. I would like to map this out for the Council and look to where we can go next.”
2017-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7983 (2017) · source
“It is a pleasure, Mr. President, to see you presiding over today's meeting. (spoke in English) I would like to start by giving a summary of what is our own analysis based on the latest developments and of some of the possible future steps ahead. As usual in Syria, we have a mixed picture, and that is what I would like to refer to. There have been some interesting technical steps taken in advance of the seventh round of intra-Syrian talks, which, as Council members know very well by now, will take place from 10 to 14 July. In addition, there are currently serious efforts under way to deliver further agreements, in particular an implementation agreement regarding the de-escalation zones, before an Astana meeting that is planned for 4 and 5 July.”
2017-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7983 (2017) · source
“During the past few weeks, several important meetings of key international and regional leaders that are taking place as we speak and will take place in various capitals have all produced important statements on the need to find a political solution in Syria. With the help of the Council and the Secretary-General's guidance, we are doing our part to incrementally find a political agreed framework in accordance with resolution 2254 (2015).”
2017-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7944 (2017) · source
“We are aware that important gaps remain among the parties with regard to major issues, but we have established an agenda, gone into substance on all baskets and taken a new, further step towards preparing the ground for real negotiations, which, I hope, will be possible in the near future. For the first time, we have received the consent of all parties to engage with us on an expert, solid and concrete level. Furthermore, I am pleased that all parties were receptive to the United Nations convening a seventh round that we intend to schedule some time in June. The United Nations in Geneva has begun to help the Syrian parties to put the building blocks in place for real negotiations on a real political solution, while we hope that Astana will contribute to ensuring that the de-escalation works.”
2017-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7944 (2017) · source
“Nevertheless, in Geneva the United Nations is ready to help prepare the ground for that because much homework remains to be done. Thirdly, any legally and constitutionally solid framework agreement will require an important underlying technical structure and details. We hope that the experts can work continuously through those details together or separately. In that regard, I have also strongly encouraged the experts to hold meetings between the rounds of the Geneva talks, not just during them. However, if anyone wants to meet only during the talks, they are welcome. The experts will not make any decisions, but rather propose options - solid, well thought out and thoroughly discussed options - to the official participants in the formal talks. Naturally a great deal of work remains to be done.”
2017-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7944 (2017) · source
“That process is intended to support the four baskets and the principle ofparallelism, which remain the focus of the talks' agenda. We agreed on that. The work of the experts remain fully framed within the terms of reference, which we all know as the intra- Syrian talks. We were unable to enter into in-depth discussions on the four baskets during that round, but we spoke of important issues concerning both parties. We hope to address those more substantially during the next round of talks. Secondly, our focus on constitutional, legal issues does not in any way take away the Syrian people's right to draft and determine their own constitutional future. We do not seek to draft a new Syrian constitution in Geneva, Astana or anywhere else. Instead, we are laying the foundations for when the Syrians are able to do so.”
2017-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7944 (2017) · source
“Their close involvement and efforts in consulting with me and engaging the sides so as to bring them closer to a possible formula remain an invaluable tool of diplomatic leverage for my own mediation efforts. I also welcome the fact that, regardless of what side of the conflict the groups were closer to, they all welcomed and supported some of the United Nations proactive, concrete proposals to the parties. Before concluding, I should like to add a few important points of clarification concerning the meetings of experts so as to be clear about what they are and What they are not, and, importantly, what the link with the four baskets is and what it could be. First, the meetings of experts are not intended to replace formal negotiations.”
2017-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7944 (2017) · source
“In fact, it came up with many valid ideas that we were able to use, as well as timely and constructive suggestions concerning the process, in general, with a view to making it as inclusive as possible for all Syrian men and women. Furthermore, today, in two hours, I will begin engagement in a series of in-depth consultations with representatives of Syrian civil society. They are important, particularly at the point at which we have arrived. Such consultations have already provided us with much insightful and practical advice. Finally, I would like to acknowledge and express appreciation for the support of the members of the Council, who actively participated in Geneva, the International Syrian Support Group and the other countries that have dispatched their own senior officials or envoys for Syria to the Geneva talks.”
2017-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7944 (2017) · source
“That might be an initial step towards a common understanding concerning some of the issues, and international and regional actors, such as the members of the Security Council, in my opinion, should do everything that they can to support it so that we might enjoy a unified opposition as soon as possible. Although we realize that it is not an immediate prospect - as borne out by the fact that we cannot see it happening immediately - we hope that it would bring us closer to the possibility of direct negotiations between the Government and the opposition. I would like to thank once again the Women's Advisory Board, which has been providing valuable feedback on the United Nations proposal with regard to a technical consultation process.”
2017-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7944 (2017) · source
“Intensive conversations on that took place within the main opposition and between it and all the platforms, and we should encourage them to make that a reality during the next round, That would send an important new message of the opposition's unity. As members of the Security Council know and have mentioned, the opposition has indicated that I should invite the High Negotiations Committee and the Cairo and the Moscow platforms. We have all thought and hoped that, one day - at least, with regard to some technical areas - that could be the beginning of their sharing a common pool of ideas.”
2017-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7944 (2017) · source
“The first would be with experts from the Government, which until then had hesitated with respect to entering into any kind of expert group, and the second with experts from the delegation of the Syrian opposition that was announced on 11 February. Two additional technical aspect meetings were also held under the consultative process on 19 May with the Cairo and the Moscow platforms, respectively. The meetings were businesslike, constructive and informative. We can now say that the process is up and running, and it has already shown its own potential. We also had constructive discussions on trying to find a formula through which experts from the Cairo and the Moscow platforms mightjoin, at least, the expert meetings of the delegation of the Syrian opposition announced with its own composition on ll February.”
2017-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7944 (2017) · source
“That stimulated a very intense and, in my opinion, valuable discussion and many constructive oral and written observations from the parties. We met the sides during the day and in the evening to answer their queries and urge them to indicate the basis of their own participation in the expert consultative process. That enabled us to move beyond the paper and the initial set of ideas that we had prepared, and to focus on the real deliverable, which was establishing a consultative process at the technical level as an additional, effective new tool and piece of architecture in the intra-Syrian talks process. Participants wasted no time and on 19 May agreed on two separate technical meetings with experts from my own team.”
2017-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7944 (2017) · source
“They are the ones who should be drafting their own constitution, but we can help in preparing the ground for it. Therefore, to that end, I informed the parties that I intended to establish a technical consultative process to move forward and examine in greater depth the relevant constitutional and legal issues raised within the formal sessions. The sessions remain formal, but can we not go a little bit deeper, especially when the subject may have common ground? Can we not prepare better for the time when there will be a peace conference and many of those issues could be at least more or less, if not sorted out, at least prepared? I therefore shared initial ideas with the participants in the talks, while sketching out a possible vision for that type of approach.”
2017-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7944 (2017) · source
“We had only four days and needed to make good use of them to go even deeper. Specifically, I saw an opportunity and a need to increase focus and work on the constitutional and legal dimensions of the talks as the talks proceed. Everything is touched by that; every question that comes up has either a constitutional or a legal aspect. Why not go in deeper? Why not prepare in advance of that? I think we can all agree that no stakeholder - be it Syrian, regional or international - will accept any constitutional, legal or institutional vacuum in Syria before, during or after any negotiated transitional political process. I believe that on that, at least, we all agreed. Most importantly, the process needed and needs to be owned by the Syrians.”
2017-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7944 (2017) · source
“They also had, in the previous case, showed that the process is now facing fewer obstacles related to possible walk-outs, procedural objections or long statements attacking each other or even questioning the other side's legitimacy. We strongly insisted on that, and we got it. I do not deny that there are, of course, still major gaps between the parties, but we have also seen a deepening ofthe process across the baskets and a greater understanding of what is required if the parties are to succeed in negotiating a framework for a transitional political agreement that safeguards the sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and independence of Syria, based on the Geneva communique (S/2012/522, annex) and resolution 2254 (2015), adopted by all Council members. I assessed that the parties needed to be ready to roll up their sleeves.”
2017-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7944 (2017) · source
“I have therefore urged the Astana guarantors in writing to formally confirm that technical agreement as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the United Nations Mine Action Service, which is based in New York and was part of the United Nations team in Astana, is ready to do its part to advance an effective approach to humanitarian demining in Syria. In the immediate aftermath of Astana, I invited the parties to the intra-Syrian talks to a sixth round in Geneva. They all came and met in a proximity format. The round was kept brief so as to proceed in a focused manner. It lasted four intense days, including one case of night/evening discussions. In the previous round, the parties had already begun to engage in substance across all four baskets of the agenda that the Security Council approved after the fourth round.”
2017-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7944 (2017) · source
“When there is a reduction of violence, that should be the first consequence - the first secondary positive effect. We have not seen enough of that. The United Nations stands ready to respond to any opportunity for increased humanitarian access based on the needs of the people and in line with international humanitarian law. Finally, regarding Astana, we were encouraged to note that the guarantors seriously engaged in discussions on two additional subjects of importance to us and to the Syrians: detainees, abductees and missing people, and humanitarian demining. Indeed, on detainees, they finalized at the technical level an agreement on a process for addressing the issue in which the United Nations would be closely involved, and we are ready and willing to be so.”
2017-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7944 (2017) · source
“All relevant international actors, specifically regional ones and the co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group, have a particular interest in this regard. The United Nations remains ready to provide its technical expertise. Our goal is not just de-escalation but - at least on the military side - the realization of the nationwide ceasefire. Therefore, in order to make sure that the memorandum can be implemented fully, we have a common interest in ensuring that no party to the conflict takes advantage of any ambiguity on the ground or in the memorandum. We urge all the parties, the Astana guarantors and those who have an influence on the parties to take steps to ensure rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to the more than 4.5 million people in need in areas that are hard to reach and besieged.”
2017-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7944 (2017) · source
“These incidents show that, despite losing further territory this month, ISIL/Da'esh still has the capacity to cause great harm. We are also aware of the reports that the anti-ISIL coalition has carried out strikes on an armed convouy, which allegedly was composed of forces of the Syrian Government and its allies in the desert east of Horns. I am also encouraged by the recent Government of Syria's agreements with armed opposition groups, which are resulting in the release of some detainees and abducted people. All these facts remind us that there are still important details to clarify to ensure the full implementation of the Astana memorandum by all parties. We should therefore urge together the ceasefire guarantors to address those details quickly, diligently and fairly within the time frame they themselves stipulated in the memorandum.”
2017-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7944 (2017) · source