Pedersen Acknowledges Stagnation in Political Process in Syria, Fears Another 'Collapse'

Volunteers in a refugee camp in Idlib spray children with water to mitigate the impact of high temperatures. (AFP)
Volunteers in a refugee camp in Idlib spray children with water to mitigate the impact of high temperatures. (AFP)
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Pedersen Acknowledges Stagnation in Political Process in Syria, Fears Another 'Collapse'

Volunteers in a refugee camp in Idlib spray children with water to mitigate the impact of high temperatures. (AFP)
Volunteers in a refugee camp in Idlib spray children with water to mitigate the impact of high temperatures. (AFP)

The United Nations Special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, regretted that during two years of frozen front lines, the international community had not seized upon the window provided by that relative calm to build a credible political process.

“We need to be honest about the mismatch between the scale of our collective political efforts and the scale of the challenge at hand,” he stressed.

He outlined the deepening humanitarian crisis in Syria and the threat of escalating violence between the US forces and Iranian-backed militias in the country.

In a briefing to the UN Security Council from Geneva, Pedersen detailed the troubling signs of military escalation, noting that the degree of fragmentation in Syria, the region and internationally prevents the international community from addressing this conflict in a comprehensive manner.

Yet, he emphasized that “this is the only way to avoid another dangerous collapse.”

He expressed concern over troubling signs of military escalation in recent months, detailing August strikes attributed to a wide range of actors.

“An escalatory cycle could see events further unravel,” he stressed, underlining the cost for civilians and the threat to international peace and security given the international nature of many of the latest clashes.

Speaking about the humanitarian situation, the envoy underscored the importance of all Council members’ support for the implementation of all aspects of resolution 2642 (2022), including the cross-border and cross-line modalities and assistance with early recovery.

He also emphasized the need for a political process that moves steadily forward, noting that “we do not have that at present”.

Recalling his July briefing regarding why plans for the ninth session of the Syrian Constitutional Committee are on hold, he detailed recent engagement with Russian, Iranian and Turkish senior officials and voiced hope that the Committee will soon reconvene in Geneva.

He added, however, that the key challenge facing the Committee “is not the venue, but the lack of progress on substance.”

Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Joyce Msuya, highlighted the recent increase in violence in northern Syria, reporting that drone strikes and shelling resulted in civilian casualties.

Noting reports about preparations for a possible military operation in northern Syria, she said displacement is already happening and violence is impeding the United Nations ability to operate.

“The cross-line mission to Ras al Ayn was postponed due to increased hostilities, despite all the necessary approvals and preparation.”

She strongly appealed to the members of the Council to ensure respect for the rules of war and accountability for serious violations.

Msuya also spoke about the “extremely bad” security situation in al-Hol camp and called on all member states involved to take urgent action and fulfill their responsibility to repatriate their citizens through all available routes.



Sharaa Tours More Syrian Cities ahead of National Conference

This handout picture released by the Syrian Presidency on February 16, 2025 shows Syria's interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa attending a meeting with officials and local leaders in the western coastal city of Tartus. (Syrian Presidency / AFP)
This handout picture released by the Syrian Presidency on February 16, 2025 shows Syria's interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa attending a meeting with officials and local leaders in the western coastal city of Tartus. (Syrian Presidency / AFP)
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Sharaa Tours More Syrian Cities ahead of National Conference

This handout picture released by the Syrian Presidency on February 16, 2025 shows Syria's interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa attending a meeting with officials and local leaders in the western coastal city of Tartus. (Syrian Presidency / AFP)
This handout picture released by the Syrian Presidency on February 16, 2025 shows Syria's interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa attending a meeting with officials and local leaders in the western coastal city of Tartus. (Syrian Presidency / AFP)

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited the coastal cities of Latakia and Tartus on Sunday as part of a tour of the country that he kicked off on Saturday in the Idlib and Aleppo provinces.

The tour is taking place weeks ahead of a national conference scheduled in Homs in central Syria.

Sharaa was warmly welcomed by crowds that gathered in Latakia city center near the Jules Jammal school, which holds historic and national significance.

The school was established in the early 1920s and it helped shape national awareness in the country. It was the launch point for student protests and an arena for electoral tensions between the Baath party, Muslim Brotherhood and Syrian nationalists.

It was shut during the rule of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, leaving it in neglect despite its significance to the people.

Sharaa deliberately chose to greet the people near the school to underscore Latakia’s national role that was usurped by the Assad regime.

In Aleppo on Saturday, Sharaa attended an open dialogue discussion with several social and economic figures from the city and its countryside.

He listened to their proposals and demands, with sources saying that the talks focused on the state of affairs in Syria and efforts to revive it after the war and regime ouster.

This handout picture released by the Syrian Presidency on February 16, 2025 shows Syria's interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa attending a meeting with officials and local leaders in the western coastal city of Latakia. (Syrian Presidency / AFP)

Sharaa stressed Aleppo’s economic significance and role in the industry sector.

He underlined his confidence that Syria will rise again thanks to its people, telling the crowd that the interim government is focusing on setting plans for 2025 and 2026.

The sources said Sharaa sought to assure the people, emphasizing that “everyone was under the law” and that Syria is not a sectarian state.

He urged them to trust him in tackling the issues at hand, reiterating that he was walking the “very fine line between transitional justice and civil peace.”

Sharaa also visited Afrin city in Aleppo which is predominantly Kurdish.

He assured that Syrian Kurds were part of the Syrian population.

He visited refugee camps in the northwest, stressing that returning the displaced home was a government priority.

Sharaa’s tour is taking place amid preparations for the national conference in Homs. Consultations have already gotten underway for the meeting.