UN questions Trump stance on Syria

UN ENVOY Staffan de Mistura yesterday questioned US President Donald Trump’s engagement in solving the Syrian conflict, just days ahead of crucial peace talks in Geneva.

“Where is the US in all this? I can’t tell you because I don’t know,” he said.

The US’ top three priorities include fighting Islamic State jihadists, “how to limit the influence of some major regional players and how to not to damage one of their major allies in said de Mistura.

“Even a ceasefire with two guarantors can’t hold too long if there is no political horizon,” he said, referring to recent talks in Astana brokered by Russia and Turkey.

Any political solution has to be inclusive to be credible, he said, stressing that the Astana talks and the ceasefire agreed provided an opening that should be explored. the region,”

A new round of UN talks are due to be held in Geneva on Thursday, involving Syrian regime and rebel representatives. Under Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama, Washington insisted President Bashar al-Assad had to go, putting it at odds with Moscow which backs the Syrian leader.

Trump has called for closer cooperation with Moscow to combat IS in Syria and Iraq, leaving the Assad question open. — AFP