OSE Press conference: Geir O. Pedersen
/
3:27
/
MP4
/
256.3 MB

Edited News

OSE press conference: Syria - Presser Geir O. Pedersen

STORYLINE
Less than 30 days before the newly-formed Constitutional Committee for Syria meets in Geneva to try to agree on a new foundational text, as one of the building blocks for lasting peace in the war-ravaged country, UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen acknowledged that progress depends on overcoming several obstacles, from the release of prisoners, to a reduction in violence and insecurity.

Speaking to journalists in Geneva, Pedersen appeared upbeat – but realistic - about the upcoming face-to-face meeting of the 150-member body, featuring 50 representatives each from the Government, opposition and civil society.

“The good news is we will meet here on 30 October and hopefully have a successful beginning,” he said. “A Committee in itself will not solve the crisis in Syria, and I think no-one has ever said that. But what we have said is of course a Constitution could help to bridge differences within the Syrian society, it could help to build trust and it could also be a door-opener to the broader political process.”

A smaller, 45-person body consisting of 15 Government, 15 opposition and 15 civil society members will also meet separately in the Swiss city to prepare and draft proposals, Mr. Pedersen explained, in line with agreed terms that are framed by the key principles of respect for the UN Charter, Security Council resolutions, Syria’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

At the same time, the Syria Envoy acknowledged the need to address concerns about ongoing clashes in Idlib, where Government forces stepped up their military campaign in April, as well as insecurity concerns elsewhere.

“We need to make sure we are able to move forward on several tracks,” he told reporters. “I said in my briefing to the (Security) Council, that we also need of course to work on the situation in the north-east, this I said, Idlib is a particular challenge, the situation in the north-east is a challenge, but also we are increasingly worried also about the situation in the south-west and what is happening there.”

After more than eight and a half years of war, hundreds of thousands of Syrians are believed to have been killed in the fighting. Millions more have fled the country, which has also suffered massive destruction that’s likely to cost at least $400 billion to rebuild, UN experts said in 2018.

Focusing on the situation in the formerly largely Kurdish-controlled north-east, on the border with Turkey, the Special Envoy insisted that the situation should be handled “with respect to Syrian sovereignty, independence on territorial integrity”.
In addition, legitimate Turkish security concerns needed to be taken on board, he said, along with respect for all the different communities in the north-east.
“If all of these three issued are addressed, we believe we can be able to move forward,” he said.

Confirming that the Constitutional Committee included Kurdish delegates, Mr. Pedersen insisted that “all segments” of Syrian society were represented, including women, at nearly 30 per cent of the civil society element taking part.

This “unique representative body” alone would take decisions on rewriting the Syrian constitution, the Special Envoy insisted, noting that while he might have “several ideas” about it, he was convinced after meeting the Government and opposition that they were able to “handle this for themselves”.

Reiterating that “we don’t have much time” ahead of the 30 October meeting at United Nations Geneva, Mr. Pedersen also cited the need for the release of more combatants, as a confidence-building measure. To date, there have been four rounds of releases so far, but far greater numbers should be liberated, he suggested.

“Obviously this is an issue that is touching too many families in Syria and is causing too much pain,” he explained. “We believe that addressing this …would be an important way forward for the Syrian people. And it would also help us I believe in start to build trust in Syria again.”

Asked about the possibility of a nationwide ceasefire, Mr. Pedersen said that it was something that he and his team was taking “very, very seriously…It’s also linked as I said earlier to the situation in Idlib and the importance of hopefully keeping the calm in Idlib in the days, weeks and months ahead and we believe that a nationwide ceasefire could help to solidify this.”

Similar Stories

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Seif Magango on atrocities in El Fasher, Sudan

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Seif Magango on atrocities in El Fasher, Sudan ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango today told the bi-weekly UN press briefing in Geneva of more details that are emerging on the atrocities committed in El Fasher, in Sudan during and after its takeover by the Rapid Support Forces.

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango alarmed by the deaths and injuries in the ongoing election-related protests in Tanzania

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango alarmed by the deaths and injuries in the ongoing election-related protests in Tanzania ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango made the following comment on Friday at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on US attacks in Caribbean and Pacific violating international human rights law

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on US attacks in Caribbean and Pacific violating international human rights law ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani made the following comment on Friday at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.

Sudan update OHCHR - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , WHO

Sudan update OHCHR - WHO ENG FRA

Sudan: UN Raises Alarm Over Mass Atrocities in El Fasher as Survivors Report Executions, Killings and Rapes 

More details continue to emerge about atrocities committed during and after the fall of El Fasher to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan on 23 October. Since the powerful paramilitary group made a major incursion into the city last week, the UN Human Rights Office has received “horrendous accounts of summary executions, mass killings, rapes, attacks against humanitarian workers, looting, abductions and forced displacement,” said Seif Magango, spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Ukraine humanitarian update - UN OCHA 31 October 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA

Ukraine humanitarian update - UN OCHA 31 October 2025 ENG FRA

Ukraine: Russian attacks on energy terrorize population as winter starts; could trigger major ‘crisis within crisis’

The UN’s top aid official in Ukraine expressed concern on Friday about “continuous attacks” on energy production sites and distribution facilities. 

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on last month’s telecomms shutdowns in Afghanistan

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on last month’s telecomms shutdowns in Afghanistan ENG FRA

The telecommunications shutdowns in Afghanistan in September had serious and far-reaching impacts on people’s lives, according to a briefing paper published today by the UN Human Rights Office and the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).  

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on ASEAN declaration on the right to a healthy environment

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on ASEAN declaration on the right to a healthy environment ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Jeremy Laurence at the UN Geneva press briefing made the following comment on the ASEAN declaration on the right to a healthy environment. 

Hurricane Melissa update IFRC - WMO - OCHA

1

1

1

Edited News | IFRC , OCHA , WMO

Hurricane Melissa update IFRC - WMO - OCHA ENG FRA

‘Catastrophic’ Hurricane Melissa hours from landfall in Jamaica as humanitarians rush to save lives

Millions in Jamaica and across the Caribbean are bracing for massive impact from Hurricane Melissa on Tuesday as the UN and partners are warning of a “severe” and “immediate” humanitarian threat.

Gaza health update - WHO 24 October 2025

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Gaza health update - WHO 24 October 2025 ENG FRA

‘We need all routes to open’: in Gaza WHO calls for ramp-up of medevacs, easier access for essentials

Two weeks since a ceasefire agreement entered into force in Gaza the World Health Organization (WHO) noted progress on the flow of aid while calling for more evacuations of critical patients and eased entry for essential medicines and supplies.

SG Guterres Early Warnings - WMO

1

12

1

1

Edited News | WMO , UNITED NATIONS

SG Guterres Early Warnings - WMO ENG FRA

UN chief urges boost to life-saving weather warning systems, stresses role of climate change science

No country is safe from the devastating impacts of extreme weather — and saving lives means making early-warning systems accessible to all, UN chief António Guterres said on Wednesday.

Gaza aid update - WFP

1

1

1

Edited News | WFP

Gaza aid update - WFP ENG FRA

Gazans’ response to food distributions ‘overwhelming’ as humanitarians scale up under fragile ceasefire

In Gaza, the ceasefire is enabling UN humanitarians to reach more desperate people with life-saving food, but greater access is needed to contain the spread of famine.

Gaza aid and border crossings - WFP, OCHA 17 October 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WFP , OCHA

Gaza aid and border crossings - WFP, OCHA 17 October 2025 ENG FRA

UN urges opening of all Gaza crossings to deliver three-month food supply

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned food aid cannot reach everyone in Gaza unless all border crossings are opened, particularly in the north where famine was declared in August. The agency says it already has enough supplies in place to feed the entire population of the Strip for three months – if full access is granted by Israel.