UN Envoy: Military force won’t build loyalty in Syria

In his clearest comment since the outbreak of events in Suweida, UN Special Envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen stated that using military force to impose loyalty to the state is "unacceptable."

 In an interview with Sout Al-Asima magazine, Pedersen noted that the events in Suweida fundamentally differ from developments on the Syrian coast, pointing out that the escalation was "avoidable" if local and regional parties had managed the situation properly. While welcoming the ceasefire announcement in Suweida, Pedersen emphasized the need for it to be followed by a "genuine and inclusive dialogue" between Syria’s transitional government and local communities.

This dialogue should pave the way for security and administrative arrangements that enable local communities to manage their affairs independently within the framework of the Syrian state.

 Regarding the country’s future, the UN envoy stressed that security and stability in Syria depend on a genuine and inclusive political transition process through the will of the people, not through foreign interventions or the use of force.

He rejected reliance on external protection as a long-term solution, noting that "legitimacy is established through credible political participation under a unified Syrian framework."

 The UN official concluded by emphasizing that resolving the Syrian crisis requires solutions based on effective local governance and inclusive constitutional arrangements that restore Syrians’ confidence in being active participants in their country’s future.

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ANHA