The UN must take a “firmer stance” and become “less diplomatic” when dealing with the Syrian regime to end the crisis, an opposition spokesman told The National, as constitutional talks kicked off in Geneva this week.
Syria's crisis, which has left half a million people dead, devastated cities and drawn in other countries and extremist groups, entered its twelfth year this month.
The regime's key supporters have been Russia and Iran while Turkey and other Arab states have backed the opposition to a certain degree during the conflict.
Previous rounds of UN-led talks have failed to make much progress, with President Bashar Al Assad refusing to step down and negotiate with the opposition.
Over the years, the fragmented opposition has insisted that Mr Al Assad leave his position as part of any political settlement.
However, last May, Mr Al Assad held presidential elections, which he won by a landslide, official figures showed.
The opposition believes that the UN Special Envoy to Syria Geir Pederson must be less diplomatic when addressing the UN Security Council and must put pressure the regime to make compromises to enable progression of the peace process.
“The UN is supposed to do more, be more active, call a spade a spade and at the same time come together in the General Assembly and not the Security Council because it’s been taken as a hostage by Russia and its use of the veto to protect the regime,” Yahya Al Aridi said during a phone call.
Previous UN Security Council sessions have failed to adopt resolutions condemning the use of chemical weapons and the regime’s brutality against civilians following vetoes by Russia.
The ball is in the UN’s court to save Syria, Mr Al Aridi said, adding the international community rose against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine so it must do the same for Syria.
“When [Mr Pederson] makes his briefs to the UN Security Council he doesn’t dot the Is and cross the Ts, he doesn’t specify who is hindering the process, who is trying to obstruct it and who is weaseling out and this is the regime,” he added.
The Syrian opposition figure is insisting that Mr Pederson is not expressing his annoyance with the regime's lack of compliance to UN resolutions.
“However, the UN envoy does this out of being diplomatic because it seems that the main concern is to get the three teams together in Geneva and that’s it,” said the Syrian opposition spokesman.
He urged Mr Pederson to take the Syrian issue to the UN General Assembly to adopt a resolution that would end the “brutality of the Syrian regime”.
“They took Ukraine to UNGA and they got the vote where Russia and the Syrian regime said no to the resolution that condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” he said.
“So for us it’s harder and it’s been going on for over a decade,” he said.
The UN special envoy's office told The National they will not comment on Mr Al Aridi's remarks.
Talks on the constitution will be the seventh round between 15 members of each of Syria’s three factions. The latest round in October ended with no agreement on how to move forward.
Those who are represented in the talks are members of the opposition, government and civil society.
Before the start of the negotiations, Mr Pedersen said the parties had agreed on a deal and decided to meet again with his help this week in Geneva.
“We do not have any expectations at all because the experience of the last six rounds was disappointing, as the special envoy has said in his own words,” Mr Al Aridi said.
“We have two parties, with one side choosing the path to a military solution with no respect to the other part and no regard to what Syrians have been going through and their main concern is to focus on remaining in power and for the Syrian people to suffer,” he said.
Mr Al Aridi has refused to go to Geneva and participate in the talks and has frozen his membership in the constitutional committee. He believes the regime is “playing games” and there needs to be a time plan put in place.
“The regime has never committed itself and has wasted time so the world would know that it’s participating in the political process,” he said.
Syria's opposition believes the only way out is to ensure that all sides “get together politically in a different way.”
The opposition must “stand tall and strong” to commit itself to what Syrians really want and to implement UN resolutions, he said.
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
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BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (11.30pm)
Saturday Freiburg v Borussia Monchengladbach, Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Dortmund, Cologne v Wolfsburg, Arminia Bielefeld v Mainz (6.30pm) Bayern Munich v RB Leipzig (9.30pm)
Sunday Werder Bremen v Stuttgart (6.30pm), Schalke v Bayer Leverkusen (9pm)
Monday Hoffenheim v Augsburg (11.30pm)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
BACK%20TO%20ALEXANDRIA
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Shooting Ghosts: A U.S. Marine, a Combat Photographer, and Their Journey Back from War by Thomas J. Brennan and Finbarr O’Reilly
Ahmed Raza
UAE cricket captain
Age: 31
Born: Sharjah
Role: Left-arm spinner
One-day internationals: 31 matches, 35 wickets, average 31.4, economy rate 3.95
T20 internationals: 41 matches, 29 wickets, average 30.3, economy rate 6.28
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Flyweight Corinne Laframboise (CAN) v Manon Fiorot (FRA)
Featherweight Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Bogdan Kirilenko (UZB)
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Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
MATCH DETAILS
Liverpool 2
Wijnaldum (14), Oxlade-Chamberlain (52)
Genk 1
Samatta (40)
British Grand Prix free practice times in the third and final session at Silverstone on Saturday (top five):
1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:28.063 (18 laps)
2. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 1:28.095 (14)
3. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1:28.137 (20)
4. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) 1:28.732 (15)
5. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Renault) 1:29.480 (14)
THREE
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Stage 2 results
1 Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal 04:18:18
2 Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep 00:00:02
3 Arnaud Demare (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 00:00:04
4 Diego Ulissi (ITA) UAE Team Emirates
5 Rick Zabel (GER) Israel Start-Up Nation
General Classification
1 Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal 07:47:19
2 Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep 00:00:12
3 Arnaud Demare (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 00:00:16
4 Nikolai Cherkasov (RUS) Gazprom-Rusvelo 00:00:17
5 Alexey Lutsensko (KAZ) Astana Pro Team 00:00:19
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EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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