By Matthew Russell Lee, for InnerCityPro
UNITED NATIONS, February 17 — When the UN’s envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura came to the Security Council on February 17, it was his first briefing since October 30. This time, he took no questions, instead trying to clarify comments he made about Assad being “part of the solution.”
While de Mistura announced the government’s willingness for a six week halt to aerial bombing and artillery shelling in Aleppo, start date to be announced from Damascus, when Inner City Press asked if he wanted this memorialized in a Security Council resolution he did not answer.
Here’s what de Mistura read, from his little notebook, as transcribed moments later by InnerCityPro: “The government of Syria has indicated to me a willingness to halt all aerial bombing, all types, and artillery shelling for a period of six weeks all over the city of Aleppo, from a date which we will be announcing from Damascus. Therefore I plan therefore to proceed to Damascus and hopefully to Aleppo as soon as possible… We will engage very much the opposition to see them respond to a similar request from UN to halt mortar and rocket fire all over the city of Aleppo for six weeks.”
Then de Mistura backed toward the elevator as media shouted how small his accomplishments have been, even that he is increasing rather than reducing violence. I will not take questions, he said, you must forgive me. Really?