UNITED NATIONS (AP) 鈥� The top U.N. official for Syria warned Wednesday of the 鈥渞eal dangers of renewed conflict and deeper confrontation鈥� in the war-battered country but also hoped for a better life for its people following decisions by the U.S. and European Union to .
Geir Pedersen noted the fragilities in the multiethnic country and 鈥渢he urgent need to address the growing polarization." He pointed to in late April following the killings in Alawite-minority areas in March.
鈥淭he challenges facing Syria are enormous, and the real dangers of renewed conflict and deeper fragmentation have not yet been overcome," he told the U.N. Security Council.
But Pedersen said the Syrian people are cautiously optimistic that President announcement last week that and a Tuesday will 鈥済ive them a better chance than before to succeed against great odds.鈥�
Speaking by video from Damascus, Pedersen called sanctions relief, including by the United Kingdom last month, as well as from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey 鈥渉istoric developments.鈥�
鈥淭hey hold major potential to improve living conditions across the country and to support the Syrian political transition,鈥� the U.N. special envoy said. 鈥淎nd they give the Syrian people a chance to grapple with the legacy of misrule, conflict, abuses and poverty from which they are trying to emerge.鈥�
was ousted in a lightning rebel offensive late last year after a 13-year war, ending more than 50 years of rule by the Assad family. , led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, has said Syria鈥檚 heritage of coexistence must be preserved at all costs, but the country faces massive challenges.
Today, 90% of Syrians live in poverty, with 16.5 million needing protection and humanitarian assistance, including nearly 3 million facing acute food insecurity, Ramesh Rajasingham, the U.N. humanitarian division鈥檚 chief coordinator, told the council.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday that Syria is potentially 鈥渙n the verge of collapse,鈥� warning that would lead to civil war and the country again becoming 鈥渁 playground鈥� for the Islamic State group and other militants.
Pedersen told the Security Council that IS has been escalating attacks in areas of Syria in recent weeks, with signs of more coordinated operations using improvised explosive devices and medium-range weapons.
Rubio said there鈥檚 no guarantee that 鈥渢hings are going to work out鈥� by lifting sanctions and working with al-Sharaa鈥檚 transitional government, but if the U.S. didn鈥檛 try, 鈥渋t鈥檚 guaranteed not to work out.鈥� He said Trump鈥檚 announcement of sanctions relief has led regional and Arab partner nations to help stabilize the country.
鈥淣o one should pretend this is going to be easy, because it鈥檚 not," Rubio said. But if Syria could be stabilized, it would mean broader stability in the region, including Lebanon, Jordan and Israel, he said.
鈥淚t is a historic opportunity we hope comes to fruition," Rubio said. "We鈥檙e going to do everything we can to make it succeed.鈥�
John Kelley, political coordinator at the U.S. mission to the United Nations, told the council that 鈥淯.S. government agencies are now working to execute the president鈥檚 direction on Syria鈥檚 sanctions.鈥�
鈥淲e look forward to issuing the necessary authorizations that will be critical to bringing new investment into Syria to help rebuild Syria鈥檚 economy and put the country on a path to a bright, prosperous and stable future,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he United States also has taken the first steps toward restoring normal diplomatic relations with Syria.鈥�
Syria鈥檚 transitional government is urged to take 鈥渂old steps鈥� toward Trump administration expectations, Kelley said, including , quickly removing foreign militant fighters from the Syrian military, ensuring foreign extremists such as Palestinian militias can鈥檛 operate from Syria, and cooperating in preventing the resurgence of the Islamic State group.
Syria鈥檚 deputy U.N. ambassador, Riyad Khaddour, praised Trump鈥檚 鈥渃ourageous decision鈥� to lift sanctions as well as his . Khaddour also touted actions by the European Union, U.K., Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates 鈥渢o support Syria as it moves forward with confidence and hope.鈥�
鈥淭he new Syria鈥� is seeking to become 鈥渁 state of peace and partnership, not a battleground for conflicts or a platform for foreign ambitions,鈥� he said.
Edith M. Lederer, The Associated Press
