UN: Syrian elections will take 4 to 5 years

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA): Geir Pedersen, the UN Special Envoy for Syria, emphasized yesterday evening (Sunday, January 12) that the armed groups ruling Damascus made promises regarding the formation of a transitional government.

Speaking to Al Arabiya News Network, Pedersen claimed that the Riyadh meeting on Syria was good. This meeting gave Syria the opportunity to listen to the demands of the international community.

The upcoming meeting on Syria is the first international meeting to make decisions on Syria, which was held in Riyadh yesterday with the participation of Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani, Geir Pedersen, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Syria, Kaia Kallas, the European Union's foreign policy chief, and other officials from Arab countries.

He pointed out that armed groups do not currently have full control over Syrian territory, adding: "We have heard from the new government that it will start national talks in less than three months."

Stating that the transitional government will be formed within the next three months, the UN envoy said that the armed groups ruling Damascus have claimed that all segments of Syria will be present in this government.

Stressing that if the so-called Syrian national talks are held as soon as possible, it will be a source of confidence inside and outside Syria, Pedersen stated: "A clear roadmap for Syria should be drawn up at this meeting."

Stating that holding elections in Syria may take 4 to 5 years, he said: "Israeli interventions in Syria must stop. Until the sanctions are lifted, there can be no talk of rebuilding Syria."

The UN official pointed out that 17 million Syrians are in need of humanitarian aid, and noted that rebuilding Syria requires international support and the lifting of sanctions.