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TunisiaUN Syria envoy to MEPs: “I cannot say how long eastern Aleppo will last”
December 1, 2016
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UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura has warned MEPs that Aleppo’s besieged eastern part could be obliterated by Christmas. In an interview following his meeting on Tuesday with Parliament’s foreign affairs and development committees, the UN envoy spoke of the need for a political solution.
“We need international pressure to ensure that there is no continuation of the heavy bombing. In all fairness, there is no evidence that Russia is bombing eastern Aleppo right now; the Syrian air force is. I cannot say how long eastern Aleppo will last. By Christmas time, once it has perhaps been taken into government control, there will have been a lot of damage. Humanitarian aid needs to get in before that happens,” he said.
When asked how much hope there is for a credible political solution, de Mistura replyed: “Given the geopolitical environment, there has scarcely ever been a conflict with so many players, both regionally and internationally, as well as so many fighting groups and Daesh. This does not mean however that there is no solution. We have a roadmap: resolution 2254. We should be applying it, and it is never too late. In any case, there is not going to be any stable military outcome without a political solution.”
On the role of the EUin post-conflict reconstruction and reconciliation in Syria, the UN envoy underlined that Europe is the first place affected by the Syria crisis. “Europe must be at the frontline and support the UN as Federica Mogherini is doing. The EU can also do a lot in terms of mediation, with Iran, Saudi Arabia and other regional players. The most important aspect though is reconstruction. No other institution is more ready to contribute towards the reconstruction of Syria. Again, this relies on a credible political, inclusive solution. Not merely a defeat or a victory.”
Read more
UN Envoy De Mistura at EP (video)
European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection – Syrian crisis factsheet
Photo: © European Union 2016
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