UN envoy praises Saudi Arabia efforts to unite Syrian opposition

NEW YORK - 30 August 2017: UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura praised on Wednesday efforts exerted by Saudi Arabia to bring the Syrian opposition together.

Addressing a UN Security Council meeting on Syria, de Mistura urged all Syrian rival parties to get ready to engage in serious and comprehensive negotiations to ensure a better future for Syria.

On that score, the UN envoy called for starting the reconstruction process of Syria as soon as possible, noting that the Syrian people suffered long in the past period.

He further urged Russia, Iran, Turkey, the US and Jordan to work together to de-escalate tensions in the Arab country.

The meetings, which will be held later in Astana, Geneva and Amman, should tackle the Syrian crisis, he noted.