Briefing by Najat Rochdi, Deputy Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, on the situation in Syria.

The Deputy Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, Najat Rochdi, told Security Council members that there is an urgent need for de-escalation in Syria and across the region, and that all actors – Syrian and non-Syrian – must exercise maximum restraint.

Briefing the Security Council today (28 Nov) on the situation in Syria, Rochdi said, “Let me start with the ongoing and urgent need for de-escalation in Syria and across the region, which remains the most pressing matter at hand.”

She continued, “We remain deeply concerned about the prospect of a potentially wider escalation in Syria. The effects of the tragic developments in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel continue to be felt inside Syria.”

Rochdi said, “We hear from all concerned parties a clear message that they do not seek escalation. But this is simply not enough. Violence continues in Syria, including spillover from Gaza and Israel. To continue such violence is to play with fire.”

She stressed, “Just one miscalculation – one stray artillery shell or misjudged airstrike - could ignite a dozen different powder kegs that lie within Syrian borders.”

The Deputy Special Envoy concluded, “I ask this Council and all stakeholders – Syrian and non-Syrian - to exercise maximum restraint and urgently make efforts to de-escalate the tense and dangerous situation in Syria. And in tandem, we need your full and unified support in getting a political process back up and running – in terms of the Constitutional Committee, step-for-step confidence building measures and a broader process on all issues of resolution 2254.”

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