Ibrahimi Meets US, Russian Officials over Syria: No for Military Solutions

Local Editor

International envoy to Syria al-Akhdar Ibrahimi stressed Friday that there is no military solution to the Syrian crisis as he didn't expect a political solution to emerge anytime soon.

Ibrahimi spent the day at the United Nations' European headquarters meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns.
"We are all very, very deeply aware of the immense suffering of the Syrian people, which has gone for far too long. We all stressed the need for a speedy end to the bloodshed, to the destruction and all forms of violence in Syria. We stressed again that in our view, there was no military solution to this conflict," Ibrahimi told reporters.

However, he acknowledged that "if you are asking me whether a solution is around the corner, I am not sure that is the case. What I am certain of is that there is an absolute necessity for people to continue to work for such a peaceful solution, and that it is the wider international community, especially members of the Security Council, that can really create the opening that is necessary to start effectively solving the problem."

Ibrahimi's five hours of talks with Bogdanov and Burns ended without any apparent deal. It was Braham's second meeting in as many months with Bogdanov and Burns, who each left without making any public comments.
"I am absolutely certain that the Russians are as preoccupied as I am, as preoccupied as the Americans are, by the bad situation that exists in Syria and its continuing deterioration, and I am absolutely certain that they would like to contribute to its solution," he said.
Ibrahimi further said the foundation for a political solution continues to be the agreement reached among major powers in Geneva in June, which called for creation of a new governing body for Syria that would "exercise full executive powers" during an unspecified transition period.

"And we agreed that full executive powers means all the powers of state," Ibrahimi said of Friday's discussions. "I will continue to engage all Syrian parties as well as other stakeholders in the region and internationally."
For his part, Bogdanov revealed that the tripartite meeting stressed the importance of supporting Ibrahimi's mission of the UN envoy to Syria.
In an interview with Russia Today TV, Bogdanov said that the participants agreed on continuing communication, adding that the Russian side stressed that the Geneva statement, issued last June, is the basis for the settlement.
He described the meeting as "fruitful".

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in an interview with the Associated Press that he was pleased that Ibrahimi convened the meeting and "I'm also encouraged that they are trying to bridge the gap on their differences, particularly how this transitional executive body will operate."


Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org