Guterres calls for ‘serious dialogue’ to end surging violence in Syria

    UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on all parties to engage seriously with his Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, to finally chart a new, inclusive and comprehensive approach to resolving the crisis in line with Security Council resolution 2254 (2015).

Guterres' remarks came during a stakeout outside the Security Council chamber on Thursday to address Syria's "grave and dramatic developments" that are unfolding. 

The UN Secretary-General urged "all those with influence to do their part for the long-suffering people of Syria", expressing heartbreak over their worsening plight and the growing threats to regional and international security. 

Guterres added that this latest offensive was launched into Government-controlled areas by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham – sanctioned by the Council as a terrorist group along with a broad range of other armed opposition groups. "This has led to significant shifts in the frontlines, and tens of thousands of civilians are at risk in a region already on fire," he warned. 

"We are seeing the bitter fruits of a chronic collective failure of previous de-escalation arrangements to produce a genuine nationwide ceasefire or a serious political process to implement Security Council resolutions," he said, stressing, "These must change." 

The UN official underscored the urgency of ensuring immediate humanitarian access to all civilians in need and the importance of resuming the UN-facilitated political process to end the bloodshed. "All parties are obligated under international law to protect civilians," he added.

WAM