Syria: Special Envoy applauds ‘shared conviction’ among Syrians on political transition

This article is published in association with United Nations. The UN Special Envoy for Syria said on Monday that Syrians across the political spectrum share a deep conviction that the country’s political transition must succeed. Geir Pedersen stressed that protection for all Syrian minorities and a fully inclusive process is essential to shaping its future. The […]

Uprooted Syrians mulling return mustn’t be pushed, says UNHCR

This article is published in association with United Nations. Syria’s historic power reset coupled with the highly volatile situation there, has increased basic needs in a country where nearly 17 million people already depended on aid, UN aid teams insisted on Tuesday. For those forced to flee the country’s 13-year war, “they are considering how safe Syria […]

Syrians now have ‘historic opportunity’ to build a peaceful future, says Guterres

This article is published in association with United Nations. After 14 years of brutal war and the fall of the dictatorial regime, today the people of Syria can seize an historic opportunity to build a stable and peaceful future, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Sunday. As reports continued to emerge from the Syrian capital, Damascus, […]

Europe bows to Turkey’s rulers, sends Syrian refugees back to chaos

Last Saturday we learned from his own lips that the President of the European Council Donald Tusk has “thick skin”. Of course, people who follow the political day-to-day of the Council already knew it. Tusk made this statement last Saturday from Turkey, a country where thick skin politicians are in abundance. The President of the […]

Merkel had it her way with the refugees & immigrants but can Greece and Turkey deliver?

Early in the morning of 7th March, ahead of the first meeting in the series of the latest traumatic gatherings of the 28 EU leaders with the Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, this newspaper argued that the EU had to prove on that day it could remain in one piece. This didn’t happen then. Last […]

The EU bows to Turkey in view of the talks for a political settlement in Syria

On 27 April 2015, in relation to the efforts to stem the refugee and immigrant flows to Europe, this newspaper predicted that “Turkey won’t cooperate”. Last Monday this prediction was not only confirmed but the European Union quasi accepted, that so far Turkey has done enough. The relevant passage of the Press release issued by […]

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