STORY: UN envoy outlines challenges for Syria's new administration, urges inclusive transition
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 22, 2025
DATELINE: Jan. 23, 2025
LENGTH: 00:01:17
LOCATION: Damascus
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the conference
2. SOUNDBITE (English): GEIR PEDERSEN, UN Special Envoy to Syria

STORYLINE:

The United Nations special envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Wednesday enumerated seven obstacles confronting Syria's new leadership, ranging from the integration of armed factions into a single national force to ending sanctions and fostering economic recovery.
   
SOUNDBITE (English): GEIR PEDERSEN, UN Special Envoy to Syria 
"Number one, bringing armed factions that are holding arms into one national army. Two, the specific challenges of the northeast. Three, the protection of all Syrians. Four, what I already alluded to, the political transition. Five, the question of transitional justice. Six, the question of sanctions, economic recovery, and reconstruction. Seven and last, but not least, the Israeli presence."
   
Pedersen stressed that the political transition, featuring a new constitution and free elections, must be "Syrian-led and Syrian-owned" in order to succeed. "We need an inclusive transition," he said.
   
The envoy also called for sanctions to be lifted to expedite Syria's reconstruction, adding that time may be needed before it becomes feasible to negotiate such relief with the U.S. government.
   
Addressing concerns about the northeast, in terms of the conflict between Turkiye-backed groups and U.S.-backed Kurdish-led groups, Pedersen urged that ongoing negotiations should be given a chance, warning that renewed hostilities between Syria's new government and local armed forces would serve no one's interests.
   
Pedersen reiterated the UN's willingness to assist the transitional administration, emphasizing that the process will require international cooperation.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Damascus.
(XHTV)