GENEVA / SYRIA PEDERSEN PRESSER

UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen said he needed a “credible engagement to ensure that if the [Constitutional] Committee reconvenes, it will function properly, work expeditiously, and achieve some results and continued progress” in lines with the agreed terms of reference. UNTV CH

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:55
• Production Date: 9 February 2021
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: GEIR PEDERSEN
• Corporate Name: SECURITY COUNCIL
• Subject Topical: CONFLICT SITUATION; POLITICAL CRISIS
• Geographic Subject: SYRIA
• MAMS Id: 2601455
• Parent Id: 2601455
• Alternate Title: unifeed210209a

Description

STORY: GENEVA / SYRIA PEDERSEN PRESSER
TRT: 1:55
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 09 FEBRUARY 2021, GENEVA, SWIZERLAND

Shotlist

FILE - GENEVA, SWIZERLAND

1. Wide shot, Palais des Nations exterior

09 FEBRUARY 2021, GENEVA, SWIZERLAND

2. Wide shot, Pedersen at dais
3. Med shot, journalist
4. Wide shot, Pedersen speaking to reporters
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Geir Pedersen, Special Envoy for Syria, United Nations:
“I shared with the Council the assessment that I shared with the Committee members themselves, that session five of the Constitutional Committee was a missed opportunity and a disappointment. I discussed with the Council what we could do to be able to create a situation where we could change the current way the Committee is working and that I need a credible engagement to ensure that if the Committee reconvenes, it will function properly, work expeditiously, and achieve some results and continued progress in lines with the Terms of Reference that we have already agreed upon.”
6. Med shot, Pedersen speaking to reporters
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Geir Pedersen, Special Envoy for Syria, United Nations:
“I noted that there is a lack of trust and confidence and a lack of political will to compromise – and a lack of political space to compromise too. I also told the Council that many of the issues of concern to the parties are indeed not constitutional, and not even in the hands of the Syrians themselves, and that these issues are all linked. I stressed that no one actor or existing group of actors – Syrian or foreign – can determine the political settlement of the conflict. It must be negotiated. I noted that I believe that everyone accepts that, but most players seem keen for other side to move first.”
8. Med shot, journalist
9. Wide shot, Pedersen leaving dais

Storyline

UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen said he needed a “credible engagement to ensure that if the [Constitutional] Committee reconvenes, it will function properly, work expeditiously, and achieve some results and continued progress” in lines with the agreed terms of reference.

Speaking to reporters in Geneva today (09 Feb) after having briefed the Security Council in closed consultations, Pedersen said he shared with the Council the assessment he shared with the Committee members themselves, “that session five of the Constitutional Committee was a missed opportunity and a disappointment.”

He said he discussed with the Council “what we could do to be able to create a situation where we could change the current way the Committee is working.” Pedersen stressed the importance of not repeating what has been done to date and the importance of focusing on common constitutional language.

The UN Special Envoy also underscored the need for a constructive international diplomacy on Syria. He said he was more convinced than ever that without this, it is unlikely that any track would really move forward.

Pedersen said, “I noted that there is a lack of trust and confidence and a lack of political will to compromise – and a lack of political space to compromise too. I also told the Council that many of the issues of concern to the parties are indeed not constitutional, and not even in the hands of the Syrians themselves, and that these issues are all linked. I stressed that no one actor or existing group of actors – Syrian or foreign – can determine the political settlement of the conflict. It must be negotiated. I noted that I believe that everyone accepts that, but most players seem keen for other side to move first.”

The Special Envoy underlined the need to bridge the current divides in the international community in an effort to define mutual and reciprocal steps for steps, defined with realism and precision, that can create some trust and confidence and generate movement on the issues in resolution 2254.

Pedersen said he hoped to travel to Damascus in the not too distant future. He said the next meeting of the Constitutional Committee would depend on the discussions he will have with the parties, both on procedural questions, workplan, and also on substantive issues.