UN envoy calls for increased aid to Syria on visit to Damascus – World Issues

The Secretary-General’s special envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, arrived there a week after President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown by the forces led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTC).

Answering questions from the media when he arrived, Mr. Pedersen noted a “huge” change since the fall of the Assad regime.

“This change itself creates great hope, but we all know that there are many challenges ahead. So we have to fix it from the beginning,” he said.

He felt it necessary to start a political process that includes all Syrians and “which should obviously be led by the Syrians themselves.”

Read the full transcript of the press conference here.

Services, public order and security

The second challenge is to ensure that government institutions work, he said, and the delivery of services, public order and security are “very important”.

On the humanitarian crisis, he said it was necessary to ensure that Syria receives “urgent emergency aid” for people and all refugees who want to return.

“This is very important,” he stressed.

End impunity and jump start the economy

Regarding the issue of economic recovery, he said “we must make sure that this is resolved quickly.”

“We hope to see an immediate end to the sanctions, so that we can really see a rally in the reconstruction of Syria.”

He also felt that justice should be done. He said the perpetrators of crimes across the country must be held accountable.

“We have to make sure that this happens through an honest justice system, and we will not see retaliation,” said Mr. Pedersen.

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