De Mistura: The Syrians to Determine their Form of Government, Future
NEWYORK, (ST) _ UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura stressed that only the Syrians can determine the future of the head of state, form of government in their country and their future, stressing the need to respect the Syrian national unity, sovereignty and borders.
In an interview with Sky News Arabic De Mistura said that “the future of the Syrian government and the form of government in Syria are only in the hands of the Syrian people,” calling for political solutions to the crisis in Syria.
He said that the Syrian government expressed readiness to stop air and artillery bombardment operations in all parts of Aleppo city for six weeks,, stressing that opposition forces must also suspend military operations, especially the artillery and rocket bombardment in order to help civilians.
AFP quoted de Mistura as saying to reporters after submitting a report to the UN Security Council yesterday, in a closed session on the development of his mission, “the suspension of these raids and shelling will be effective as from the date of its announcement in Damascus.”
He noted that what he called “opposition forces” will be also required to stop firing rockets and missiles, adding he would travel to Damascus again “as soon as possible.”
He pointed out that he asked the Syrian government to facilitate the arrival of the UN mission whose task is to select “a sector in Aleppo” as a place of test to stop the fighting.
“I do not have illusions as based on past experience, this task would be difficult to be fulfilled. Facts on the ground will prove whether the freezing will survive and be replicated in other places.”De Mistura emphasized.
He continued that “the goal is to avoid the fall of the largest possible number of civilians, “while waiting for a political solution.
“Every time when there is proposal for a cease-fire, as history has shown, a kind of escalation in order to take a better position. I am afraid that this may be the case.”De Mistura said.
T. Fateh