UN / SYRIA

The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Geir O. Pedersen, told the Security Council that “a strategic stalemate” exists in Syria and called for “serious diplomatic discussions on a range of steps that could begin to impact the conflict dynamics.” UNIFEED

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:23
• Production Date: 26 January 2022
• Asset Language: Arabic; English
• Personal Subject: GEIR PEDERSEN
• Corporate Name: SECURITY COUNCIL
• Subject Topical: PEACE AND SECURITY; PEACE PROCESS; TERRORISM
• Geographic Subject: SYRIA
• MAMS Id: 2704622
• Parent Id: 2704622
• Alternate Title: unifeed220126d

Description

STORY: UN / SYRIA
TRT: 02:23
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / ARABIC / NATS

DATELINE: 26 JANUARY 2022, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

FILE - NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior UN Headquarters

26 JANUARY 2022, NEW YORK CITY

2. Various shots, Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Geir O. Pedersen, Special Envoy for Syria, United Nations:
“Despite the continued violence and suffering, it is also clear that a strategic stalemate does exists. There have been no shifts in frontlines for nearly two years. It is clear that no existing actor or group of actors can determine the trajectory or outcome of this conflict, and indeed that the military solution remains an illusion.”
6. Wide shot, Council
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Geir O. Pedersen, Special Envoy for Syria, United Nations:
“I am calling anew for serious diplomatic discussions on a range of steps that could begin to impact the conflict dynamics, build some trust and confidence between and among Syrians and international stakeholders, and make progress step-by-step, step-for-step, within the framework of resolution 2254.”
8. Wide shot, Council
9. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Bassam Sabbagh, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Syria:
“Syria underlines the need for the Special Envoy to abide by his role as a facilitator and that he must work on implementing the provisions of the terms of reference agreed between parties without interfering in the substantive dialogue between members of the committee. He should convey the developments objectively and in a neutral manner.”
10. Wide shot, Council
11. Wide shot, Pedersen at the podium
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Geir O. Pedersen, Special Envoy for Syria, United Nations:
“I understand that the story is still developing, but it seems that the SDF is not - by and large I understand - in control all the area. So, I, you know, what we are seeing is the largest Da’esh attack since it was territorially defeated. So, this is really a major event. I think we shouldn't have been surprised. We have been warning about this for quite some time, that we are seeing increased Da’esh activities. And of course, it's also linked to the continuation of the crisis in in Syria.”
13. Zoom out, Pedersen walks away

Storyline

The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Geir O. Pedersen, today (26 Jan) told the Security Council that “a strategic stalemate” exists in Syria and called for “serious diplomatic discussions on a range of steps that could begin to impact the conflict dynamics.”

Pedersen noted that “there have been no shifts in frontlines for nearly two years,” and said it was “clear that no existing actor or group of actors can determine the trajectory or outcome of this conflict, and indeed that the military solution remains an illusion.”

In his address to the Council, Syrian Ambassador Bassam Sabbagh said, “Syria underlines the need for the Special Envoy to abide by his role as a facilitator and that he must work on implementing the provisions of the terms of reference agreed between parties without interfering in the substantive dialogue between members of the committee. He should convey the developments objectively and in a neutral manner.”

Outside the Council, Pedersen was asked about the recent attack on a prison in northeast Syria.

He said, “I understand that the story is still developing, but it seems that the SDF (Syrian Defence Forces) is not - by and large I understand - in control all the area. So, I, you know, what we are seeing is the largest Da’esh attack since it was territorially defeated. So, this is really a major event. I think we shouldn't have been surprised. We have been warning about this for quite some time, that we are seeing increased Da’esh activities. And of course, it's also linked to the continuation of the crisis in in Syria.”

In recent days, an unprecedented terrorist attempt at a prison-break for thousands of detainees with suspected ISIL (Da’esh) affiliation in Hasakah, sparked major clashes, with airstrikes reportedly causing dozens of fatalities.