Damascus: The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Geir O. Pedersen, has called on Syrian parties and key international actors to de-escalate tensions and engage in meaningful negotiations to address the ongoing conflict. Pedersen emphasized the urgent need to convene comprehensive peace talks to find a resolution to the crisis in Syria. According to Kuwait News Agency, Pedersen highlighted the collective failure to initiate a genuine political process to implement Security Council resolution 2254 (2015). He underscored the necessity for all parties to uphold their obligations under international law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. He warned against the dangers of merely managing the conflict instead of resolving it, stating that military means alone cannot resolve the Syrian conflict. Pedersen stressed the importance of serious negotiations between Syrian parties and key international stakeholders to prevent further division and deterioration in Syria. He noted recent shifts in frontli nes, including significant advances by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and various armed opposition factions, as well as pro-government airstrikes. These developments, he warned, pose significant risks to civilians and have serious implications for regional and international peace and security in a country ravaged by nearly 14 years of war. Syria has been witnessing widespread clashes between opposition and government forces, particularly in the Aleppo governorate, which is a key economic area of the country.
