Syria’s Race Against Time
UN-Arab League Joint Representative Lakhdar Brahimi presses for Geneva II, while Saudi women are on the road again.
In a grim report to the UN Security Council on Oct. 25, Valerie Amos, United Nations undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, described conditions in Syria as a “race against time,” providing another tragic litany of the toll of the war on Syria, including the potential for the first polio outbreak there in 14 years.
Amos’ testimony comes as Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN-Arab League joint representative for Syria, is on a regional diplomatic tour including, so far, stops in Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Iran, and en route to Syria, in preparation for the Geneva II conference.
Although Brahimi has not confirmed a date for the conference, and invitations have not been sent, the objective is to hold the meeting Nov. 23-24.
In a news conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on Oct. 26, Brahimi said, “The participation of Iran at Geneva II is natural and necessary.” Zarif added, "If Iran is invited to take part in Geneva II, we will be there to help find a diplomatic solution."
