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The UN’s new Syria envoy on Thursday said that the world needs to confront “terrorist groups” in Syria and in other parts of the world, but that Syria also needs a political solution.
“The terrorist groups need to be confronted and that’s clear. But there is no contradiction… in fighting terrorism both with security measures… but also with (an) accelerated and effective, all-inclusive political process that will contribute to isolate the terrorists from the rest of the population. The two should go hand in hand”, Staffan de Mistura said in Damascus after meeting Syrian President Bahsar Assad – the trip was his first visit to Syria since his appointment. He did not comment on the nature and content of their discussion.
De Mistura made no specific references to US plans to tackle extremists from the Islamic State (IS) operating in Iraq and Syria – Obama said that Washington will wage a “relentless” war against the IS, including air strikes and provision of aid to rebel groups.
However, De Mistura recalled a unanimous resolution taken by the UN Security Council which called for action to be taken against groups like the IS.
“There is a very important priority which has been identified by Resolution 2170, the good news that we have is that everyone is feeling the need to take some initiative regarding terrorism which has become a threat to everyone in the region and beyond”, he said.
The Former Italian Deputy Foreign Minister, who was appointed after Lakhdar Brahimi resigned from the post, said that he will build on his predecessor’s efforts, and on those of Kofi Annan before Brahimi, while stressing on the importance of reducing violence.
“The UN will strive and continue to do so particularly now with renewed energy to assist all Syrians… and the Syrian government in order to facilitate reduction of the violence, first priority”, he said.
