UN says too soon for new Syrian peace conference
De Mistura said that the most polarizing element in the roadmap to peace in Syria adopted by key nations in Geneva in June 2012 is the formation of a transitional government with full executive powers, which opposition groups insist on and the government says is unconstitutional.
The Security Council has been paralysed by deep divisions over Syria, with Russian Federation blocking resolutions aimed at putting pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to end the war.
“The asking price of persevering with the friendly battle is actually too high”.
There is an “urgent need for the worldwide community to act now if we want to save and preserve what is left of Syria”, Ban said while describing the country as “the world’s largest humanitarian crisis”.
These working groups will start generating movement towards a Syrian-owned framework document on the implementation of the Geneva Communiqu, explained de Mistura, convinced that this effort should be led by a Steering committee composed of Syrians from these thematic groups and possibly elsewhere.
Four years on, De Mistura and his team are trying to come up with a “detailed formula” to break the deadlock after months of extensive talks around the globe with Syrians and non- Syrians.
The Security Council unanimously endorsed the Geneva Communiqu, which remains the only internationally agreed basis for a political settlement to the Syrian conflict, he emphasized. He said there was also wide support for “a managed, phased, gradual or controlled transition, avoiding a repeat of Libya or Iraq”. However, he did not specify the time and place of the proposed talks that would concentrate on protecting civilians, political and constitutional issues as well as military and security matters among others.
The Swedish-Italian diplomat, whose role has been dismissed as “mission impossible, ‘ said his new approach was for Syrians to engage in simultaneous ‘working groups” on the thorniest issues. De Mistura’s two predecessors resigned in frustration at the failure to make headway in ending the war.
After closed consultations, Ban said he was “encouraged by the many expressions of strong support” for de Misutra’s plan from council members. Syria’s ambassador to the UN, Bashar Ja’afari, said his government would read the proposals.
“We can not go ahead with the political track and put aside the issue of combatting terrorism”.