OSE press conference: Syria Constitutional Committee Geir O. Pedersen
/
2:54
/
MP4
/
216.5 MB

Edited News | UNOG

OSE press conference: Syria Constitutional Committee Geir O. Pedersen

Forty-eight hours before a 150-member Constitutional Committee for Syria meets for the first time in Geneva to try to agree on a new foundational text for the war-ravaged country, UN Special Envoy Geir O. Pedersen on Monday repeated his call for a nationwide ceasefire and the release of prisoners to build trust between belligerents.

“We are strongly appealing for, you know, for the ceasefires to be respected and that we have also been appealing for a nationwide ceasefire to come into effect,” the Special Envoy said, his comments coming two weeks after a Turkish military incursion into north-east Syria that followed the withdrawal of U.S. troops there.

Speaking to journalists in the Swiss city, Mr. Pedersen underscored the significance of the fact that the upcoming meeting marks the first time that representatives from the Government of Syria and opposition groups had “ownership” of a political process that could end more than eight years of brutal conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions inside the country and abroad.

No-one apart from Syrians and the UN would be present for Wednesday’s meeting, he said, before expressing hope of seeing “tangible progress” from the open-ended process.

“The two parties have agreed to work expeditiously and continuously,” he said, referring to Government and opposition delegations that are made up of 50 members each.

A third group of 50 is also slated take part, representing Syrian civil society, with a smaller, 45-person body consisting of 15 Government, 15 opposition and 15 civil society members due to meet subsequently, in order to prepare and draft proposals in line with the UN Charter, Security Council resolutions, Syria’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

The Special Envoy added that while it was “impossible to say how long it will take for them to conclude its work”, as long as it was done “with serious intentions and we see progress - and as you know I will be reporting to the Security Council - I’m optimistic that we will within the not-too-distant future, that we see a tangible progress in the discussions”.

Such progress should include the release of tens of thousands of Syrians who remain “detained, abducted or missing”, Mr. Pedersen maintained, adding that he had made a special appeal for the early release of women and children.

“I believe that if this would happen, it would send a very powerful signal that we are indeed serious about making a new beginning for Syria,” he insisted.

Describing the Constitutional Committee as “remarkably representative” of Syrian society, Mr. Pedersen confirmed that while there was Kurdish representation, there were no SDF representatives on the Committee, in reference to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces that have agreed to pull back from the north-east Syria-Turkey border.

And while the UN negotiator reiterated his belief that the “Constitutional Committee alone cannot and will not resolve the Syrian conflict”, he highlighted widespread international support for a UN-led political solution to end it.

“I think actually this is the first time since the adoption of Security Council resolution 2254 in December 2015 that we have all the key international actors agreeing on an important step forward within the Syrian crisis,” he said. “That goes both for the so-called Astana Three (Iran, Russia, Turkey) it goes for the so-called Small Group (Egypt, France, Germany, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the UK and U.S.) and of course, as you will have noticed, the Security Council unanimously expressed its support to this process.”

Asked to assess the challenges the Committee faced, given the requirement under the rules of procedure that decisions should be based on consensus or by a 75 per cent majority, Mr. Pedersen explained that he hoped all sides would “try to understand the other side of the argument and then move forward. Hopefully it will take time before it will be necessary to have voting in the process.”.

  1. Wide shot, exterior, Palais des Nations, Geneva.
  2. Wide shot, journalists and podium with Geir O. Pedersen, UN Special Envoy for Syria, and spokesperson Jenifer Fenton, Room III.
  3. SOUNDBITE (English) — Geir O. Pedersen, UN Special Envoy for Syria: “The two parties have agreed to work expeditiously and continuously. It is impossible to say how long it will take for them to conclude its work, but as long as it is done with serious intentions, and we see progress and as you know I will be reporting to the Security Council, I’m optimistic that we will within the not-too-distant future, that we see a tangible progress in the discussions.”
  4. Medium shot, journalists writing on laptop, TV crews, profile, Room III.
  5. SOUNDBITE (English) — Geir O. Pedersen, UN Special Envoy for Syria: “We are strongly appealing for, you know, for the ceasefires to be respected and that we have also been appealing for a nationwide ceasefire to come into effect.”
  6. Medium shot, journalists, TV crews, Room III.
  7. SOUNDBITE (English)— Geir O. Pedersen, UN Special Envoy for Syria: “It is a remarkable I think within the Syrian historical context, a remarkably representative committee. We have obviously also Kurds in the Committee, but you are absolutely right, there are no SDF representatives on the Committee.”
  8. Medium shot, journalists, Room III.
  9. SOUNDBITE (English) — Geir O. Pedersen, UN Special Envoy for Syria: “I think actually this is the first time since the adoption of Security Council resolution 2254 in December 2015 that we have all the key international actors agreeing on an important step forward within the Syrian crisis; that goes both for the so-called Astana Three, it goes for the so-called Small Group and of course, as you will have noticed, the Security Council unanimously expressed its support to this process.”
  10. Medium shot, journalists listening and typing on laptops, profile, Room III.
  11. SOUNDBITE (English) — Geir O. Pedersen, UN Special Envoy for Syria: “Of course we are very much aware of the fact that the Constitutional Committee alone cannot and will not resolve the Syrian conflict.”
  12. Wide shot, TV cameras, journalists, Room III.
  13. SOUNDBITE (English) — Geir O. Pedersen, UN Special Envoy for Syria: “Tens of thousands of Syrians remain detained, abducted or missing and I have appealed in particular for the early release of women and children. I believe that if this would happen, it would send a very powerful signal that we are indeed serious about making a new beginning for Syria.”
  14. Medium shot, journalists, Room III.
  15. SOUNDBITE (English) — Geir O. Pedersen, UN Special Envoy for Syria: “My hope is that we can see that the parties in the Committee will reach out to each other, that they will try to understand the other side of the argument and then move forward. And hopefully it will take time before it will be necessary to have voting in the process.”
  16. Medium shot, photographers, profile, Room III.
  17. Close up, journalists writing on laptops, Room III.
  18. Medium shot, journalists, TV crews, Room III.

Similar Stories

ITU 160th Anniversary - 17 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News , B-roll | ITU

ITU 160th Anniversary - 17 May 2025 ENG FRA

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) commemorated 160 years dedicated to connecting the world on Saturday, 17 May in Geneva, Switzerland, during the annual World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.

Gaza humanitarian update – WHO, OCHA 16 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , OCHA

Gaza humanitarian update – WHO, OCHA 16 May 2025 ENG FRA

Gazans ‘in terror’ after another night of deadly strikes and siege

Amid reports that Israeli strikes across Gaza into Friday killed at least 64 people, aid teams once again pushed back strongly at allegations that aid is being diverted to Hamas and pleaded for the blockade to end.

UN Human Rights raises human rights concerns about deportations from the United States of America

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights raises human rights concerns about deportations from the United States of America ENG FRA

Deportations over recent months of large numbers of non-nationals from the United States of America, especially to countries other than those of their origin, raise a number of human rights concerns, the UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk warned on Tuesday.   

Gaza health update - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Gaza health update - WHO ENG FRA

Gaza: Over 50 child malnutrition deaths amid aid blockade; entire generation will be ‘permanently affected’ - WHO

In the aid desert of Gaza, malnourished children are dying while survivors can expect a lifetime of dire health problems, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, UNRWA, WHO 09 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , UNICEF , UNRWA

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, UNRWA, WHO 09 May 2025 ENG FRA

Israel’s aid plan will force Gaza families to choose ‘between displacement and death’ – UN humanitarians

Israel’s plan to take control of relief assistance in Gaza risks increasing the suffering of families already exhausted by 18 months of war by putting their lives in danger and inciting more displacement, using aid as “bait”, UN humanitarians said on Friday.

Gaza humanitarian blockade  OCHA - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , WHO

Gaza humanitarian blockade OCHA - WHO ENG FRA

UN Humanitarians reject Israeli plan to take over aid delivery

The reported Israeli proposal to deliver humanitarian supplies through hubs controlled by the military would be a breach of the core principles of neutral, impartial and independent aid delivery, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, said on Tuesday.

 

Gaza two months blockade - OCHA 02 MAY 2025

1

1

1

Edited News , B-roll | OCHA

Gaza two months blockade - OCHA 02 MAY 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza: ‘Worst-case scenario’ unfolds as two-month aid blockade deepens suffering - OCHA

Two months into a devastating aid blockade of Gaza food has run out and people are fighting over water amid relentless bombing, the UN’s humanitarian affairs coordination office (OCHA) said on Friday.

/Includes OCHA footage from Gaza City/

Gaza humanitarian update - UNRWA

1

1

1

Edited News | UNRWA

Gaza humanitarian update - UNRWA ENG FRA

Children in Gaza are going to bed starving, says aid agency
The biggest UN aid agency in Gaza on Tuesday condemned the two-month Israeli blockade on Gaza that has left families sharing a single tin of food at mealtime and the sick and injured without lifesaving medical help, amid daily bombardment.

Ukraine attacks - UNHCR 25 April 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNHCR

Ukraine attacks - UNHCR 25 April 2025 ENG FRA

Ongoing Russian attacks in Ukraine force frontline areas to empty: UNHCR

With Ukrainian cities still reeling from this week’s deadly Russian missile and drone attacks, communities on the front line continue to be targeted too, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Friday. “We also see attacks on frontline regions increasing and it's, as always, civilians that are bearing the highest cost of the war,” said Karolina Lindholm Billing, UNHCR Representative in Ukraine. 

 

Ethiopia update - WFP

1

1

1

Edited News | WFP

Ethiopia update - WFP ENG FRA

Funding and supply shortfalls for the UN World Food Programme (WFP)'s work in Ethiopia will halt lifesaving treatment for 650,000 malnourished women and children at the end of the month. “We are at the breaking point,” it said on Tuesday. 

Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al Kheetan on continued Israeli military operations in Lebanon

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al Kheetan on continued Israeli military operations in Lebanon ENG FRA

Israeli military operations in Lebanon continue to kill and injure civilians, and destroy civilian infrastructure, raising concerns regarding the protection of civilians, the UN Human Rights Office warned today.

Sudan crisis update IOM - UN Women - UNDP

1

1

1

Edited News | IOM , UNWOMEN , UNDP

Sudan crisis update IOM - UN Women - UNDP ENG FRA

Sudan: Aid teams report massive displacement after latest Darfur atrocity; women’s bodies ‘turned into battlegrounds’

In Sudan’s North Darfur, tens of thousands of people have fled a displacement camp following the massacre of civilians and aid workers as the country enters the third year of a conflict marked by horrific levels of sexual violence, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.