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STORY: GENEVA / DE MISTURA SYRIA TALKS
TRT: 03:00
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 03 MARCH 2017, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
03 MARCH 2017, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Wide shot, Palais des Nations exterior
2. Med shot, de Mistura at podium
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Staffan de Mistura, Special Envoy for Syria, United Nations:
“It’s not always been easy going. We had some difficult, tough meetings but we also had some very constructive meetings. And this has been growing up during the last part of this round.”
4. Wide shot, journalists
5. Close up, journalists
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Staffan de Mistura, Special Envoy for Syria, United Nations:
“It is now clear to everyone, there is no discussion on that, we are here to implement Security Council Resolution 2254, and that is beyond dispute.”
7. Close up, cameras
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Staffan de Mistura, Special Envoy for Syria, United Nations:
“It was possible to begin also discussions on governance, constitution making, elections and also some discussion on this additional basket, regarding counter terrorism and related issues.”
9. Close up, cameras and journalists
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Staffan de Mistura, Special Envoy for Syria, United Nations:
“We believe there was progress made this round towards the base or the need for a base of a single opposition delegation to participate in negotiations with the Government of Syria.”
11. Close up, photographer
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Staffan de Mistura, Special Envoy for Syria, United Nations:
“This picture is much more than just iconic. It is highly symbolic. This was a very special moment, which in a way gave the feeling to all Syrians that everyone connected to the conflict in Syria is able indeed to sit in the same room and actually be there when the UN is trying to give them some guidelines on how to proceed.”
13. Close up, de Mistura
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Staffan de Mistura, Special Envoy for Syria, United Nations:
“The train is ready, it’s in the station. It’s got a warm engine. Everything is ready. It just needs an accelerator. And the accelerator is in the hands of those who were attending this round.”
15. Wide shot, Mr. de Mistura
16. SOUNDBITE (English) Staffan de Mistura, Special Envoy for Syria, United Nations:
“I had a feeling that the sides want to find a dialogue. That’s what matters. So, as I told you at the beginning, don’t be surprised, don’t over-estimate, don’t over-react if there are statements that say ‘never’. This is part of the rhetoric, this is part of posturing, it’s part of politics. I know what I heard and what I saw. And that gives me some feeling that we are moving in the right direction.”
17. Wide shot, de Mistura at podium
At the end of the fourth round of Intra-Syrian negotiations in Geneva today (03 Mar), UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said the “train” for resolving the six-year conflict was in the station with a warm engine but “just needs an accelerator” which is in the hand of those attending the talks.
Speaking to reporters this evening, de Mistura said it was now clear to all those involved that talks were to revolve around implementing Security Council resolution 2254, which calls for non-sectarian governance in the war-ravaged country, a new constitution and free and fair elections, adding that this was “beyond dispute.” He said despite the inability to have a single opposition delegation and direct negotiations with the Government of Syria, progress was made in this round.
The six-year conflict has claimed more than 400,000 lives, according to UN estimates, and expectations for the talks were low as fighting continued in Syria during the talks. With the main opposition delegation emphasizing the political transition, mentioned in resolution 2254, and the end of rule by President Bashar al Assad, and the Government delegation focusing largely on the necessity of countering terrorism, there seemed to be little common ground to move the talks forward. Nonetheless, the Special Envoy was able to present all invitees to the talks with a 12-points document, called a ‘non-paper’ in diplomatic parlance, which tried to identify common areas of concern to all parties, as a basis for further negotiation. He said it was possible this round to begin discussions on governance, constitution making, elections, as well as counter-terrorism.
De Mistura described the brief face-to-face encounter between the sides at the launch of the talks as the breaking of a “psychological barrier.” Holding a photograph from the event, He said the picture was “much more than just iconic, it is highly symbolic.” He said the event gave a feeling to all Syrians that “everyone connected to the conflict in Syria is able indeed to sit in the same room and actually be there where the UN is trying to give them some guidelines on how to proceed.”
De Mistura said he sensed that the parties to the talks wanted to find a point of dialogue. He asked for people not to over-react if negative statements came from the parties calling this a “part of the rhetoric, this is part of posturing, it’s part of politics.” He said what he heard and saw gave him “some feeling that we are moving in the right direction.”
The next round of UN-mediated talks in Geneva is expected to take place after further meetings in Astana, Kazakhstan, where the issue of reaching a lasting ceasefire is being addressed.
Geneva, according to Mr. de Mistura, would focus on resolving political issues divided into three main baskets of issues – governance, a new constitution, and elections – along with an added fourth basket related to counter-terrorism.
