UN / SYRIA DE MISTURA

Staffan de Mistura, the Special Envoy for Syria told the Security Council today that “we are at the time of testing whether the political will exists for real de-escalation and more meaningful political talks” between Syrian warring parties. UNIFEED

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:12
• Production Date: 27 June 2017
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: STAFFAN DE MISTURA
• Corporate Name: SECURITY COUNCIL
• Subject Topical: PEACE PROCESS
• Geographic Subject: SYRIA
• MAMS Id: 1919201
• Parent Id: 1919201
• Alternate Title: unifeed170627c

Description

STORY: UN / SYRIA DE MISTURA
TRT: 1:12
SOURCE : UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS : NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLILSH /NATS

DATELINE : 27 JUNE 2017, NEW YORK CITY

Shotlist

RECENT

1. Wide shot, exterior, UN Headquarters

27 JUNE 2017, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Security Council meeting
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Staffan de Mistura, Special Envoy on Syria, United Nations:
“We are at the time of testing whether the political will exists for real de-escalation and more meaningful political talks. And move beyond preparatory talks.”
4. Cutaway, delegates
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Staffan de Mistura, Special Envoy on Syria, United Nations:
“With every week that passes, we know it; without a final arrangement for de-escalation zones being indeed finalized, the fragility of the ceasefire regime and the risk posed by the fragility increases.”
6. Wide shot, Council in meeting
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Staffan de Mistura, Special Envoy on Syria, United Nations:
“I hope that combination of these elements would help shape an environment conducive for the next round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva in the months to come and bring us one step forward on the journey towards our shared goal of implementing the resolutions of this Council and in particular 2254.”
8. Wide shot, end of Security Council meeting

Storyline

Staffan de Mistura, the Special Envoy for Syria, briefed the Security Council today via videolink form Geneva on the progress of a peace process in restive Middle Eastern country.

He said that the situation on the ground presents a mixed picture and while there have been some positive developments; he said that “we are at a time of testing whether the political will exists for a real de-escalation and more meaningful political talks.”

De Mistura said that violence is clearly down in Syria since the signing in May of the de-escalation agreement, and many towns have returned to some degree of normalcy. However, he added, in some areas, fighting has continued and even intensified. And the improvements in the security situation have not resulted in equivalent gains in humanitarian access.

Special Envoy said, “With every week that passes, we know it; without a final arrangement for de-escalation zones being indeed finalized, the fragility of the seize fire regime and the risk posed by the fragility increases.”

De Mistura discussed preparations for the round of talks that is to be held next month in Geneva and proposed holding a further round of talks in August or early September, prior to the General Assembly session. He also said he plans to be present for talks being held in Astana on 4-5 July.

He said “I hope that combination of these elements would help shape an environment conducive for the next round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva in the months to come and bring us one step forward on the journey towards our shared goal of implementing the resolutions of this Council and in particular 2254.”

The Security Council resolution 2254 was adopted in December 2015 and has had set a road map for a peace process in Syria as a combination of direct and indirect intra-Syran talks and a nation-wide ceasefire.