UN calls for Syria meeting at ministerial level

By Fatih Erel

GENEVA

The UN envoy on Syria called Friday for a ministerial level meeting from major and regional powers to sustain a troubled cessation of hostilities, the political transition process, and humanitarian efforts.

After a meeting with the regime delegation led by Bashar Jaafari in Geneva on Friday, UN Special Envoy on Syria Staffan de Mistura said: "The cessation of hostilities is still in effect. None of the sides have renounced to it, delegitimized it and it is still in effect. but it is in great trouble, if we do not act quickly."

Noting that the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) which includes the U.S, Russia, the EU, Turkey, Iran and Arab states should urgently meet to ease the recent tensions on Syria, de Mistura said: "We do need certainly a new ISSG meeting at a ministerial level because the level of danger of the table made of three legs -- always fragile."

Referring to the "three legs", which are humanitarian assistance, cessation of hostilities and political transition, de Mistura added: "When one of them is in difficulty, we can make it. When all three of them are finding some difficulty, it is time to call the ISSG."

De Mistura also said the latest round of Syria talks is planned to end Wednesday.

"l plan to continue proximity talks both at the formal level and at the technical level until next week probably Wednesday as originally planned," De Mistura said.

De Mistura also estimated that the death toll at the five-year conflict in Syria was 400,000, despite that the UN has officially kept the figure at 250,000 for months because of difficulties in counting the dead.

De Mistura added he had no evidence of direct talks between the Syrian regime and the opposition.

"We are not talking anything else but political transition," said the UN envoy. "Neither of the two sides believe they will ever have a military victory. Therefore, it is time to talk."

On Monday, the UN envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, said the opposition delegation had unilaterally postponed indirect talks with regime delegates. Key Syrian opposition delegation members left Geneva Tuesday following the postponement.

The delegation head of the Bashar al-Assad regime said Wednesday the peace talks in Geneva would continue despite the Syrian opposition’s decision to pull out of the current round.

The latest round of talks to resolve the Syria conflict began Wednesday last week. The regime delegation joined the talks Friday following parliamentary elections in Syria.

Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011, when the regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests. Since then, more than 250,000 people have been killed, according to UN figures released months ago.