UPDATES FOR CORRESPONDENTS

28 December - Joint statement by the UN in Syria, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and the International Committee of the Red Cross
26 December - Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Special Envoy for Syria
11 December - International Syria Support Group meeting
24 November: Statement attributable to the spokesperson of the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria
14 November - Statement of the International Syria Support Group
6 November - Statement attributable to the Spokesperson of the Special Envoy for Syria
In line with the need to reach out all components of the Syrian political landscape, Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura met in Geneva today with a delegation from the Syrian Opposition Coalition led by Dr. Khaled Khoja.

Mr. de Mistura heard Dr. Khoja’s views and perspectives on ways to resolve the ongoing conflict in Syria.

The Special Envoy will continue to meet with various Syrian stakeholders, including the government and other opposition representatives, in order to ensure Syrian participation and ownership in the process leading to a political solution of the conflict.

“The Syrian people must be involved in the settlement of the conflict,” Mr. de Mistura said.
"What is currently important is the momentum of what was achieved in Vienna,” he said. Everyone agrees that there is an urgency to have a common understanding on how to end this war, this conflict," the Special Envoy said.

Mr. de Mistura will brief the Security Council early next week on the way forward after having held talks in Damascus, Moscow and Washington.

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The U.N. Special Envoy for Syria, Mr. Staffan de Mistura, met today in Geneva with His Highness Prince Karim, Aga Khan. Mr. de Mistura and His Highness Prince Aga Khan discussed recent political developments and the humanitarian situation in Syria. They also reviewed ideas for future rehabilitation and recovery.

Mr. de Mistura will brief the Security Council next week on the way forward, following the Vienna recent meeting and after holding talks in Damascus, Moscow and Washington.


Geneva, 06 November 2015
30 October - Vienna Communique on Syria

Meeting in Vienna, on October 30, 2015, China, Egypt, the EU, France, Germany, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United Nations, and the United States [“the participants”] came together to discuss the grave situation in Syria and how to bring about an end to the violence as soon as possible.

The participants had a frank and constructive discussion, covering major issues. While substantial differences remain among the participants, they reached a mutual understanding on the following:

1) Syria’s unity, independence, territorial integrity, and secular character are fundamental.

2) State institutions will remain intact.

3) The rights of all Syrians, regardless of ethnicity or religious denomination, must be protected.

4) It is imperative to accelerate all diplomatic efforts to end the war.

5) Humanitarian access will be ensured throughout the territory of Syria, and the participants will increase support for internally displaced persons, refugees, and their host countries.

6) Da'esh, and other terrorist groups, as designated by the U.N. Security Council, and further, as agreed by the participants, must be defeated.

7) Pursuant to the 2012 Geneva Communique and U.N. Security Council Resolution 2118, the participants invited the U.N. to convene representatives of the Government of Syria and the Syrian opposition for a political process leading to credible, inclusive, non-sectarian governance, followed by a new constitution and elections. These elections must be administered under U.N. supervision to the satisfaction of the governance and to the highest international standards of transparency and accountability, free and fair, with all Syrians, including the diaspora, eligible to participate.

8) This political process will be Syrian led and Syrian owned, and the Syrian people will decide the future of Syria.

9) The participants together with the United Nations will explore modalities for, and implementation of, a nationwide ceasefire to be initiated on a date certain and in parallel with this renewed political process.

The participants will spend the coming days working to narrow remaining areas of disagreement, and build on areas of agreement. Ministers will reconvene within two weeks to continue these discussions.

2 October - Statement Attributable to the Spokesperson of the Special Envoy for Syria, Mr. Staffan de Mistura
22 September - Statement attributable to the Spokesperson of the Special Envoy for Syria
13 September - Statement of the Special Envoy for Syria to the Ministerial meeting of the League of Arab States

10 September - Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria
1st September - Special Envoy for Syria met with the Deputy Foreign Minister of Arab African Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran
17 August - Special Envoy for Syria condemned yesterday's air raids on the town of Duma
14 August - Special Envoy for Syria condemns shelling of Damascus Suburbs
12 August - Special Envoy for Syria welcomes the release of human rights activist and journalist
5 August - Secretary-General encouraged by Security Council’s support for latest proposal on Syria
5 August - Special Envoy explains his proposal on thematic discussions
29 July - Remarks by the Secretary-General to the Security Council on the situation in Syria
29 July - Special Envoy for Syria briefs Security Council on the situation in Syria

23 July
22 July
21 July
20 July
15 July
14 July
13 July
11 July
10 July
2 July
26 & 27 June
Within the framework of the Geneva Consultations, Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura met with leaders of the Syrian tribes yesterday. They briefed Mr. de Mistura on their assessments of the situation on the ground and concerns of their respective communities. They also discussed perspectives for a political solution to the Syrian conflict.

Today, Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy met with Ms. Rajaa Altalli and Mr. Renas Sino of the Centre for Civil Society and Democracy in Syria. They briefed Mr. Ramzy on the escalating conflict and deteriorating situation on the ground as well as on the work of the Centre. They also shared their perspectives for a political solution in Syria and for ways civil society organizations could contribute to efforts for ending the Syrian conflict.

25 & 26 June
19 June
18 June
16 June
15 June
Within the framework of the Geneva Consultations, Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy met today with representatives of leading Syrian civil society organizations, including Mr. Fadel Al Shokfa and Mr. Wael Aleji of the Syrian Network for Human Rights. They briefed on the situation on the ground, and discussed prospects for a political solution in Syria.

Mr. Ramzy met with Mr. Haitham Manna, who briefed on the outcomes of the Cairo II meeting. The two discussed the ongoing efforts of the Syrian political, armed and civil society groups to find ways to end the conflict in Syria through political means.

Mr. Ramzy also met with a Palestinian delegation, headed by Ambassador Ibrahim Khraishi, who briefed on the situation of the Palestine refugee community in Syria. The two also discussed the situation in the region and prospects for ending the conflict in Syria.

At the end of today’s meetings, Mr. Ramzy again registered the continued plea of the Syrian groups for an urgent end to the conflict. He stressed that there was no alternative for the United Nations to sparing no effort to help reach a political solution that would meet the aspirations of the Syrian people for peace, dignity and justice.

11 June
10 June
9 June
8 June
5 June
4 June
2 June
1 June
On 1 June 2015, the Special Envoy for Syria met with a delegation from the Kingdom of Bahrain, led by Mr. Yusuf Abdulkarim Bucheeri, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, who shared his government’s views on a political solution to the conflict in Syria and the ongoing developments on the ground. “This four-year brutal conflict has proven that no one will ever win through military means,” Mr. de Mistura said at the end of his meeting.
30 May
29 May
28 May
27 May
24 May
On 24 May, Mr. de Mistura met with a delegation of the Assyrian Democratic Organization, and the Syrian Turkmen Council. He shared views with them on a political solution in Syria and the ongoing conflict on the ground. "Today I heard again about the importance of preserving Syria's social fabric and taking into account the diverse views from all corners of the country," Mr. de Mistura said. He stressed that "the United Nations will continue supporting efforts towards an all-inclusive Syrian-led political process."
22 May
On 22 May, the Special Envoy met with the Islamic scholar Muhammad Al Habash and Hind Kabawat and Asma Kftarou from a civil society organization called ‘Tastaqil. He also received a delegation from the Kurdish National Council, with whom he shared views on ways to end the conflict, with due respect for Syrian diversity while maintaining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria. He also met with Najla Riachi Assaker, the Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the UN in Geneva, and discussed ways to support Syria in launching a political process, as well as the urgent need to alleviate the humanitarian suffering and its impact on the neighbouring countries. Mr. de Mistura also received with deep sadness news of the kidnapping of a priest, Father Jacques Mourad, on 21 May in Homs, describing the “grave act” as being unfortunately not the first of its kind and “one of the sad consequences” of the raging conflict.
21 May
12 May