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United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura on Monday said he regretted the Syrian National Coalition's (SNC) decision to pull out of proposed talks between warring factions, adding he hoped their stance may yet evolve.
De Mistura highlighted "the government has announced its availability and indicated it has a list of participants ready in all four thematic groups and some opposition groups have also indicated their intention to be involved."
Four facilitators were named in September to head the UN-sanctioned working groups whose aim is to catalyze negotiations to help warring factions lay out a roadmap for peace.
According to the Swedish diplomat, some 40,000 civilians have already moved away from areas expected to witness further military escalation.
"What we must avoid at all cost at this point is of course the continuation of conflict and a partition which is de facto already being seen as a possibility," de Mistura warned, adding that "the situation could move into a toxic type of cocktail, of a combination of a creeping Afghanistan, with shades of Libya and Somalia, hence the need for a urgent political process to start now."
According to the special envoy, a solution to the conflict can only be achieved through the framework of the Geneva Communique issued in 2012 after an UN-backed Action Group for Syria meeting took place to put forward a plan of action for a Syrian-led transition.
While urging political settlements to offer future perspectives to all of Syria's stakeholders, the communique also called for steps to be implemented in a stable and inclusive environment.
It furthermore defined transitional inclusive guidelines, called for a review of constitutional order and the legal system, and stressed that it is up to the Syrian people to determine the country's future.
Syria has been steeped in conflict since March 2011, with figures indicating that over 250,000 people have been killed and some 4 million have fled the country because of widespread violence.
"Our job is to mediate but also to look for any opportunity even in the worst moments to see if there is some of type of opportunity to reduce suffering and increase the chance for some serious discussion around the table," de Mistura stated. Enditem
