The nation has called for unity among the international community to support Syria, Ambassador Pham Hai Anh, Chargé d’Affaires at the Vietnamese mission to the UN, said during a recent UN Security Council (UNSC) open video teleconference held to discuss the ongoing situation in the Middle East.

Ambassador Pham Hai Anh, Chargé d’Affaires at the Vietnamese mission to the UN,
addresses a United Nations Security Council meeting (Photo: VNA)

Ambassador Anh used the platform to urge concerned parties to actively participate in the Constitutional Committee’s upcoming meeting, adding that the relatively calm situation provides a favourable opportunity for all parties to participate in dialogue and negotiations to foster a broader political process.

“Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases keep increasing, putting further pressure on the already dire socio-economic crisis. There are still no signs of improvement when it comes to the gravity of food insecurity and shortage of basic goods,” the diplomat said.

“Against the backdrop of overwhelming humanitarian needs across Syria, we once again call for greater co-operation between concerned parties in order to ensure unimpeded humanitarian access, and to facilitate humanitarian response in all part of the country.”

Ambassador Anh therefore proposed that the international community continue its assistance to Syrian people in response to their needs, whilst simultaneously ensuring that sanctions do not hamper the Syrian people’s capacity to respond to the damaging impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the course of the UNSC’s open video teleconference on “the situation in the Middle East,” Geir Pedersen, special envoy for Syria, announced that the Constitutional Committee of Syria will convene for a fifth round of talks in Geneva, Switzerland, from January 25 to January 29. These discussions will be help with the primary aim of exploring ways in which to uphold the basic principles of the constitution.

Pederson went on to urge all concerned parties in Syria to take measures to build confidence, in addition to efforts aimed at accelerating the political process in the war-torn nation.