UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen reiterated Thursday that only a political solution can restore Syria's sovereignty.
"It is clear that only a political process and ultimately a political solution can restore Syria's sovereignty, protect the rights and future of all Syrians, and begin to address the deep divisions within Syrian society," the special envoy told the Security Council meeting on the humanitarian situation in Syria.
"It should be more clear than ever that there is no military solution for Syria. A nationwide ceasefire, stipulated in Resolution 2254, has never been more relevant and necessary," he said.
"International players have the responsibility to deepen their dialogue too, and support the UN-facilitated process as we work directly with the Syrian parties," he said.
Speaking to reporters after the Council meeting, the special envoy told reporters that "too many civilians are being killed and too many civilians being displaced in Idlib."
"There is a way out of this, and that is the launch of the political process through the Constitutional Committee," the special envoy stressed.
Thursday's meeting focused on the recrudescence of the conflict in Idlib and neighboring areas in north-western Syria since late April.
According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, more than 400,000 people have fled their homes in the last four months, mostly relocating to densely populated areas close to the Turkish border where humanitarian assistance is already overstretched, according to the Security Council Report (SCR), whose mission is to advance the transparency and effectiveness of the Security Council.
