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Syria remains of the most dangerous conflicts in the world, says Geir Pedersen

The Asharq Al-Awsat reported, Geir Pedersen, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria, admitted on Thursday that significant differences remain between the Syrian government and opposition delegations on writing the country’s new Constitution.
Briefing the 15-member Council on the penultimate day of the seventh session of the Small Body of the Syrian Constitutional Committee, he said it remains possible to find and build on common points, if the will exists to do so.
“Serious attempts should be made by all delegations to begin to narrow differences,” Pedersen said, calling for efforts that explore compromise as a way to build public trust and confidence in the process — “something sorely lacking among the Syrians at present.”
The Envoy said that Syria remains of the most dangerous conflicts in the world.

Recalling that the war marked the grim milestone of 11 years of conflict this month, he appealed to the members of that Committee to “work this week with the sense of seriousness and spirit of compromise that the situation demands.”
He said that so far, members of the Constitutional Committee have discussed draft constitutional texts in four areas of constitutional principles: basics of governance; State identity; State symbols; and regulation and functions of public authorities.
European Union reconfirms its three ‘Noes’ in Syria
Turning to the situation on the ground, the envoy cited growing humanitarian needs, as well as the ongoing human impacts of the country’s destruction and of the economy’s collapse.
He urged all concerned to take steps to reverse those trends, and to expand the delivery of cross-line and cross-border humanitarian assistance.
“While there have been no shifts in the front lines for two years, violence has nonetheless flared between several actors — including two listed terrorist groups and five foreign armies — in the past month,” Pedersen stressed, calling for efforts to de-escalate and build a true nationwide ceasefire and for the parties to cooperate against terrorists.
Geir Pedersen: Military solution in Syria is an 'illusion'
Meanwhile, he said Syrians on all sides continue to be affected by the plight of the detained, the abducted and the missing. He stressed: “Any credible attempt to build trust and confidence must include serious steps forward on this issue."
The Envoy said much could be done by Damascus and outside actors to address the challenges and concerns expressed by Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons, namely safety and security, lack of opportunities, inadequate housing, military service requirements and inadequate basic services.
Source: aawsat
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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