The UN’s special envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, voiced optimism on Wednesday for a political resolution in the war-torn country, urging “free and fair” elections following the departure of President Bashar al-Assad. Addressing reporters in Damascus, Pedersen expressed hope for a “new Syria,” with a fresh constitution and a peaceful transition after a transitional period.
Pedersen highlighted the urgent need for humanitarian aid and a potential end to international sanctions against Syria, imposed due to Assad’s human rights violations. He also stressed the challenge posed by the ongoing tensions in Kurdish-controlled areas, particularly in the northeast, where the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are in conflict with Turkey-backed factions. Turkey accuses the Kurdish YPG, a key part of the SDF, of ties to the PKK, which both Ankara and Washington consider a terrorist group.
While the US brokered a fragile ceasefire in the volatile town of Manbij, Pedersen expressed cautious optimism, hoping for a long-term political solution. Meanwhile, the Syrian group HTS stated that Kurdish areas would be reintegrated into the country under new leadership, rejecting federalism and asserting that “Syria will not be divided.”
The UN’s call for a new era in Syria underscores the complexity of its future, with hopes for lasting peace, unity, and political reform hanging in the balance.
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