Qatar stresses need for new approach to Syrian crisis
Qatar has stressed the need for a new approach to dealing with the Syrian crisis, focusing on ensuring the serious and effective participation of the Syrian regime in the negotiations of the constitutional committee.
This came in a speech delivered by HE the Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations in Geneva, ambassador Ali Khalfan al-Mansouri, during the interactive dialogue with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, under the fourth item on the agenda of the 47th session of the Human Rights Council.
HE al-Mansouri said that the grave violations and heinous crimes committed against the Syrian people since more than 10 years have killed hundreds of thousands, displaced millions and left massive destruction of infrastructure.
Despite all this destruction and tragedies, the Syrian regime insists on proceeding with a military solution and remaining in power by holding presidential elections that did not enjoy credibility and legitimacy on the part of the Syrian people and the international community, he said.
In light of the stagnation of the political process, a new approach must be taken to deal with the Syrian crisis, he said, adding that the new approach must focus on ensuring the serious and effective participation of the Syrian regime in the negotiations of the constitutional committee, which represents the first step towards drafting a new constitution that allows for free and fair elections under the supervision of the United Nations, with the participation of all Syrians in order to contribute reaching a political settlement based on the Geneva 1 communique and Security Council Resolution No 2254.
HE al-Mansouri stressed the importance of holding accountable all those responsible for the violations and crimes committed against Syrians, and ensuring adequate medical and humanitarian assistance to all those in need throughout the country, especially across the border, to alleviate human suffering and strengthen efforts to confront the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and its negative effects.