Al-Moallem, de Mistura agree to continue consultation on Aleppo initiative
DAMASCUS,(ST)_Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem and the UN Envoy to Syria Staffan De Mistura have agreed to continue consultation on the outcomes of the envoy’s communications over his initiative to ‘freeze’ fighting in northern city of Aleppo .
The agreement came after the two sides discussed today the main points of the de Mistura’s initiative that aims at restoring stability to the city of Aleppo and ensuring basic services to it as well as facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need.
In a press conference held today in Sheraton Hotel in Damascus, de Mistura said: “We are seeking to reduce violence and reach a comprehensive solution to the crisis in Syria. The solution must be political, not military.”
He clarified that his initiative includes main points related to focus on war against terrorism, reduce violence and communicate with the maximum number of people inside Syria and abroad who have suffered from the ongoing conflict and use that to reach a comprehensive political solution.
“Syrian people need a constructive and political solution after three years and half of suffering. The concentration in this stage is on Aleppo,” the diplomat said.
He described his talks with Syrian officials as ‘constructive and fruitful’.
De Mistura expressed his shock over the destruction in Homs. “We do not want that to happen in Aleppo. For this reason, I presented the initiative to freeze fighting. It is the only way to halt escalating violence, especially in a specific area starting in Aleppo.”
Basma Qaddour