Pedersen calls on UN Security Council to pressure Israel to withdraw from Syria

UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen said during a Security Council session on Tuesday “we need to lift sanctions on Syria, especially on the health, education, and agriculture sectors.”

Pedersen welcomed the agreement reached between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) regarding the future of Syria, voicing support for the work of the joint committee between the government and the SDF.

Pederesen welcome the containing of the escalation between Syria and Lebanon after two days of clashes.

He called on the Security Council to pressure Israel to withdraw from Syria, strsssjng that the continued presence of Israeli forces on Syrian territory is unacceptable.

He noted the need to take measures regarding the political process in Syria, clarifying that accountability for crimes committed in Syria are essential to achieving justice.

The UN Special Envoy for Syria affirmed that weapons must be restricted to the Syrian state and that full investigation must be conducted into the Syrian coast events.