STAFFAN
DE MISTURA
Special
Envoy for Syria
(As delivered) Briefing
to the Security Council pursuant to Resolution 2254(2015)
26
February 2016
Mr.
President, Members of the Security Council,
1. On
behalf of the Secretary-General, I welcome the adoption – I hope
soon, of a resolution, which will address the issue we worked on for
long. We
have come a long way since the first meeting of the International
Syria Support Group in Vienna on 30 October 2015. Much
has also transpired since I last briefed this Council on 5 February
2016. That
was the day when I did suspend the intra-Syrian talks in light of the
positions articulated by the parties and for the lack of progress on
the ground.
2. Three
weeks later and as a result of the heavy-lifting by members of the
ISSG – in particular its co-chairs – of the two Task Forces which
have been formed in Munich on 12 February 2016, we have aid delivered
in the last 10 days to almost 110,000 people. 200
trucks were moving inside Syria to reach people with aid. The first
WFP test air drop in Deir Eizzor took place, in order to reach an
area of 230,000 people under siege by Daesh. Perhaps most
importantly, we have a provisional agreement on the terms of a
cessation of hostilities as announced by the Russian and US co-chairs
at the beginning of this week. This cessation of hostilities is in
fact meant to come into effect in about one hour from now at 00:00hrs
Damascus time.
3. So
this Council meeting has a special significance on this exceptional
day and night for the Syrians. Consequently I will be giving, with
your permission, a rather unorthodox briefing. Rather than walking
you through the implementation of 2254 – on which you already have
the Secretary-General’s letter of 17 February 2016, I will focus on
the post-Munich developments, many unfolding in almost real time.
4. As
an outcome of the Munich ISSG meeting we now have specific
obligations for ISSG members and for Syrians to fulfill. There is a
mechanism to that effect. There is an agreed set of actions and an
immediate timeline.
5. You
have just deliberated on a resolution that will hopefully endorse all
of these steps. Then let me give you an idea of the hard work that
brought us to this stage.
Let
me give you’re the [description of what you are to adopt].
Sustained
Humanitarian Access and Humanitarian Task Force
6. This
Council is well aware of the detailed briefings on the overall grave
humanitarian situation in Syria. Over the last month alone, the
report on the implementation of resolution 2139, the report of the
Commission of Inquiry, as well as the Secretary-General’s letter of
17 February painted quite a tragic and harrowing picture of the
desperate conditions of civilians, including many women,
children and
the sick people in besieged communities across Syria – besieged by
the government, by the opposition, by Daesh. To
this we should add the unprecedented level of internal displacement
and the growing number of Syrians embarking on often a fatal journey
across land and sea to seek safety and asylum in Europe and
elsewhere.
7. Humanitarian
issues have taken a center stage in the latest ISSG deliberations in
Munich, leading to the establishment of the ISSG Task Force on
Humanitarian Access, which has met already three times since 12
February.
8. My
office, including my Senior Adviser on Humanitarian issues, Jan
Egeland, and the UNCT in Damascus, led by the UN RC/HC, Yacoub El
Hillo, have worked hard, together with implementing partners (such as
SARC) to generate a humanitarian plan as requested by the ISSG. In
the first instance urgently needed humanitarian aid was indeed
delivered to the besieged areas identified in the Munich statement:
Madaya, Zabadani, Mohadamiya, Kafr Batna (which is part of Eastern
Ghouta), Kefraya and Fouah. Thanks
to the prompt operational response of our WFP colleagues too and the
generosity of ISSG members such as Germany, the US, the Netherlands,
as well as technical support offered by the Russian Federation, we
also witnessed the first test run drops to Deir Ez Zor, which is a
difficult environment.
9. To
date, the task force members, we believe, have lived up to their
commitment in
Munich by using their influence with the parties to ensure an
increased flow of assistance – not enough, but quite an
increase. These
remarkable efforts were not without difficulties or still some
serious delays – that is why the task force is addressing those. We
are still waiting for approval for aid delivery for an additional
170,000 people. Simplifying approval procedures by the government has
yet to occur. We had a meeting yesterday between the UN team and
Deputy Foreign Minister Mekdad. I have personally addressed these
issues with the Syrian Government during my visit to Damascus last
week and I will continue to follow these matters closely, because of
their vital importance and follow-up to Munich.
Regarding
the Cessation of Hostilities and Ceasefire Task Force, Mr.
President, Members of the Council, less than three hours ago I joined
the Russian and US co-chairs at the first meeting of the Cease fire
Task Force in this very room. In
the presence of ISSG members, the two co-chairs, who have been
working all week with partners and reaching out to the parties on the
ground, outlined the terms of the Cessation of Hostilities announced
on 22 February in a joint press release by the Russian Federation and
the United States. The two co-chairs today noted that the principal
Syrian parties have announced their willingness to participate in the
cessation of hostilities beginning 00:00, Damascus time, which
basically less than an hour from now.
11. Armed
opposition groups have announced their commitment to: 1) fully
implement resolution 2254 and participate in the UN-facilitated
political negotiations – this time we want them to stay there, and
not leave at least until the end of the first phase; 2)
cease attacks with any weapons, including rockets, mortars, and
anti-tank guided missiles, against the Syrian Armed – and any
associated- Forces; 3) refrain from acquiring or seeking to acquire
territory from other parties to the agreement; 4) allow humanitarian
access; 5) use proportionate force (i.e., no greater than required to
address an immediate threat) if and when responding in self-defense.
12. On
the other hand, the Syrian Armed, and associated forces, committed to
abide to exactly the same points. This means ceasing attacks with any
weapons, including aerial bombardments by the Syrian Air Force and
the Russian Aerospace Forces, against the armed opposition groups and
parties to the cessation of hostilities.
13. The
Ceasefire Task Force will oversee the cessation of hostilities. Under
the co-chairmanship of Russia and the United States, its primary
functions include: (a) delineation of territory held by Daesh, Jabhat
al Nusra and other terrorist organisations designated by the Security
Council –which are not part of the cessation of hostilities; (b)
communications to promote compliance and de-escalation of tensions;
(c) assessment of the nature and credibility of incoming
non-compliance reports to determine response measures; (d)
determining and addressing patterns of persistent non-compliance,
before referring the matter to the senior official or higher
level. The
OSE will support this effort in its Secretariat capacity, and through
a “Permanent Alert” centre – better described as operations
centre – which
will be fielding and disseminating information to the co-chairs and
the wider ISSG. We
– the UN – are in turn not expected to characterise, assess
and/or deconflict information received, a function that shall
remain with the co-chairs, which is the Russian Federation and US, in
consultation with other ISSG members.
14. The
cessation of hostilities agreement, preceded by lengthy and detailed
discussions in Geneva and in capitals, and the outcome of intense
consultations and negotiations, including at the highest level, is in
itself a major achievement. I think the Security Council will
recognize this. The communication of their commitment by the Syrian
parties essential in ending the war, is an important step.
15. Task
Force members today agreed to reach out to respective contacts among
Syrian parties to explain the functioning of the Task Force, ensure
confidentiality of discussions within the taskforce itself, and
refrain from making public comments about non-compliance reports
being reviewed - in order to give time for that noncompliance to be
addressed. My Office, as Secretariat of the Taskforce, will, on the
Taskforce’s behalf, issue periodic public briefings on the status
of the cessation of hostilities. The current resolution also sets
clear reporting requirements. Other parts of the UN system retain the
ability to comment on the situation in Syria within their respective
mandates.
Mr.
President, Council members,
16. The
initial indication of consent by the parties to the conflict is
encouraging, but what we need is for the parties to abide by the
terms of the agreement. Much
work now lies ahead to ensure its implementation, and the
international community, the ISSG and the Syrian parties must remain
steadfast in their resolve. Today’s resolution, which we hope will
be coming, will be a further manifestation of the ISSG commitment to
deliver the parties to this agreement. Saturday will be critical.
Tomorrow. In fact, from midnight. No doubt there will be no shortage
of attempts to undermine this process. We are ready for it and we
should not be pressed, and address it realising it is part of the
cessation of hostilities. The onus remains with the co-chairs, the
relevant members of the Ceasefire Takskforce and all of us to work
fast to defuse tensions from potential cross-wiring and
disinformation and incidents. Parties would need to demonstrate
restraint in the cases where there is still discrepancies of
information on the presence and affiliation of groups. Daraya is a
case in point. On our part we will do all we can to support this
important effort. My teams both in Geneva and Damascus will be on
rotating duty as of midnight tonight to follow-up on this.
Mr.
President,
17. In
adopting resolution 2254, this Council made it abundantly clear that
only a negotiated political solution can bring an end to this
horrible five-year conflict. The resolution also acknowledges the
close link between a nationwide ceasefire and a parallel political
process. Confidence in the political process will indeed – we all
know it and people in Syria have been reminding us -, increase the
prospect of a ceasefire; in turn, a reduction in violence would help
create conditions conducive for negotiations. Progress
on a cessation of hostilities will drastically improve the conditions
on the ground, leading to significant scaling up of humanitarian
delivery across Syria.
18. As
the Secretary-General concluded in his letter to the Council, the
agreements reached in Munich present a precious opportunity for the
early and credible resumption of intra- Syrian talks. Assuming,
therefore, the cessation of hostilities largely holds and
that humanitarian access continue unabated, I intend to reconvene the
talks, based on consultations with the Secretary-General and
hopefully with your approval, on 7 March, with the same
representatives of the Syrian government and opposition, as well as
the group of individuals associated with the Moscow and Cairo
meetings.
19. As
I told the parties from the onset of talks on 29 January, the agenda
remains the same, based on resolution 2254, which aims for a
comprehensive political settlement through negotiations on a
political transition process pursuant to the Geneva Communiqué. It
is my intention to focus on the core issues, as defined by you in
this resolution 2254: securing agreement on a credible, inclusive and
non-sectarian governance; a schedule and process for drafting a new
constitution; and elements/schedule for the holding of fair and free
parliamentary and presidential elections on the basis of the new
constitution. We need to build on the momentum which has emerged
since Munich to help the parties reaching an agreement on these
matters within the shortest time possible. I
count on the ISSG, but also the Security Council, to help ensure that
the parties come to Geneva again, ready this time to engage on the
substantive issues. I
hope that the resolution you may be adopting soon will be a good
signal in that direction.
20. While
the primary focus of the talks is on governance, I also intend to
ensure pressing issues, or confidence-building aspects, that matter
most to the Syrians continue to be addressed, including the release
of any arbitrarily detained persons, among which women and children,
and people kept hostage.
21. I
am also bound, per resolution 2254, to ensure the participation of
the broadest spectrum of Syrians. As
I mentioned in my last briefing, in addition to representatives of
the government and opposition, I consulted and will continue to
consult with civil society and women, and will continue this
practice. They
make a remarkable contribution to our work. Since
the recess of the talks, both the Civil Society Support room, a
platform aimed at facilitating the participation of civil society
organisations here in Geneva, and Syrian Women’s Advisory Board
have continued their preparations. They
will help me to do my job. Furthermore, UN Women, which has worked
closely with us over recent months, has seconded a gender adviser to
my office to support both my work and that of the Women’s Advisory
Board.
In conclusion,
Mr. President, Members of the Council,
22. We
have so far together maintained the ISSG momentum. It now needs to be
sustained. Both Task Forces are making progress. Let’s admit it.
Not enough, but progress. That was unimaginable only two months ago.
The outcomes from both are first steps, but a first step towards
sustained and unimpeded access throughout Syria; and a first step
towards a more durable nationwide hopefully ceasefire. I
cannot over emphasise how important determined and sustained
political will is to the good faith implementation of this cessation
of hostilities for making this agreement hold.
23. On
humanitarian issues, it is essential not to lose focus. Our position
remains clear: all sieges must end, the UN and other humanitarian
partners must be granted unhindered and sustainable humanitarian
access without preconditions and civilians must be allowed freedom of
movement. The ongoing support of the ISSG, and this Council, remains
therefore critical.
24. As
for the cessation of hostilities, as we hope it will be respected, it
will not only create conditions conducive for the resumption of
meaningful negotiations, but it will above all send a long-awaited
signal of hope to the Syrian people that after five years of conflict
there may be an end and hope to ending to their suffering. These are
all sentiments reinforced by ISSG members in today’s meeting and
soon endorsed – I hope - by your own Security Council, once
approved.
25. On
all this aspects, the UN is there to support. All should do their
share. We will do ours, the Secretary-General confirmed it. Critical
fault lines are being addressed now, carefully and cautiously - be it
which groups participate in the cessation of hostilities or which
areas are accessed and how and which priority basis. This will remain
a complicated and painstaking process, but we should not give up –
since nothing is impossible, especially at this moment.
26. Going
forward, I will continue to heavily count on the ISSG to resolve any
ambiguities related to the talks as they arise and will keep you
fully informed of progress.
Mr.
President,
27. Resolution
2254 was a ray of hope – a moment, and a moment that still
continues, of hope. It expressed unanimously the international
community’s grave concern at the continued suffering of the
Syrians, the persistent and brutal violence and the perverse impact
of terrorism and violent extremist ideology.
28. We
are now at a crossroads –we have the possibility to turn the page
in the Syrian conflict – after almost 5 years of one of the
bloodiest conflicts in recent years. It
is potentially, a historic junction - to bring an end to the killing
and destruction and to start a new life and new hope for the
Syrians. Thank
you very much.
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