UN envoy to Syria: “No more time for long-term conferences”
by Maïa De La Baume
The United Nations’ envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, said Monday that Europe must play a key role in dealing with the refugee crisis.
Asked whether he backed French president Francois Hollande’s decision to organize a military intervention in Syria, de Mistura said of the Islamic State: “Fighting Daesh in the best coordinated way is something the United Nations has been asking.”
De Mistura said the current refugee crisis was a direct consequence of five years of conflict, the ISIS advances in Iraq and Syria, and endless political gatherings aimed at solving the conflict in Syria.
“There is no more time for long-term conferences,” de Mistura said in Brussels.
Though Europe is not involved in the Syrian conflict, de Mistura called on European institutions to get a “a common understanding of how to receive refugees with dignity.” To that extent, Germany has welcomed refugees and asylum-seekers in a “remarkable” way, he said.
He also asked Europe to “fill the gaps” in financial contributions for refugees, and put “moral and political” pressure on the United States and Russia “in order to tell them ‘hurry up’ because otherwise we will have found a political solution when there won’t be any Syrians left.” The priority should be focused on “sereine discussions” between the United States and Syria, and between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
The worst case scenario for Syria would be its “fragmentation,” he said, and a situation that would be similar to some of deadliest conflicts in the world, including “Somalia, Beyrouth at its worse moment, and the Balkans.”
Earlier this year, de Mistura told the United Nations Security Council that he would propose inviting parties at war to get involved in four U.N.-led working groups aimed at finding a roadmap to peace. More details on those involved in the working groups would be given at the end of the month, he said.
(THE NETHERLANDS) RED CROSS SHOPS
The Dutch Red Cross opened its first “shop” in an effort to coordinate the items that are collected throughout the country for refugees.
At this point, people bring in many children’s toys but there is a huge demand for winter clothes, bikes and toiletries, a Red Cross statement says. Lists with specific product requests will be distributed through
social media.
social media.
The aid organisation said that it will open more shops close to refugee centers later this week.
(LUXEMBOURG) HERE’S HOW TO HELP
The Luxemburger Wort has a list of official and not-so official groups in the Grand Duchy that are helping refugees, from the Red Cross to Facebook pages set up by local students.
(CYPRUS) SEND US YOUR (CHRISTIAN) MIGRANTS
Cyprus has offered to take up to 300 migrants, but would prefer them to be Christians.
Interior Minister Socratis Hasikos said, “We would seek for them [the refugees] to be Orthodox Christians … it’s not an issue of being inhuman or not helping if we are called upon, but to be honest, yes, that’s what we would prefer.”
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