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Conflict in Syria

UN special envoy for Syria sets goals for reconciliation

United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen Maria Khrenova/TASS

United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen

© Maria Khrenova/TASS

UNITED NATIONS, February 28. /TASS/. United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen has presented a plan to resolve the situation in the country to the UN Security Council.

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Countries seeking to save Syria should deal with Assad, says Kremlin

According to him, the first goal is "to begin and deepen a sustained dialogue with the Syrian government and the opposition on building trust and confidence towards a safe, calm and neutral environment." Pedersen said the second goal was "to see more concrete action on detainees, abductees and missing persons through engagement with the Astana players and the Syrian parties and all concerned" and the third one was "to engage a wide range of Syrians as I proceed and to involve them in the process."

The UN envoy added it was also necessary "to convene a credible, balanced and inclusive constitutional committee as soon as possible" and "to help the international parties deepen their own dialogue towards the common purpose of a credible and sustainable political settlement of the Syrian conflict that can enjoy international legitimacy."

"One final thought: Syrians have every capacity to live together in peace and a political settlement is plainly needed if we are to see real and genuine reconciliation," the UN envoy pointed out. "There is no military solution and the true victors will be those who can move beyond slogans and paint a hopeful picture of what Syria could look like in ten years - a picture that all Syrians can support, even if the road towards it will be long and hard," Pedersen concluded.

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