Homs governor meets UN Special Envoy to Syria

Homs, SANA-Homs governor Talal al-Barazi stressed that the governorate encourages any effort that serves to promote and sustain national reconciliations in Homs and keep civilians away from armed confrontations.

The governor’s comments came during his meeting with the United Nations Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura.

Al-Barazi gave a thorough review of the situation in Homs city, elaborating on the governorate’s efforts to deliver basic services to all unsafe areas in cooperation with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent organization (SARC) and international humanitarian organizations.

“28 schools are functional in Talbiseh, 68 in Rastan and its villages and 14 in al-Wa’r. Their teaching cadres, who are state employees, are receiving their salaries regularly,” the governor said.

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He added that al-Wa’r neighborhood hosts 16 temporary residential centers that include 2000 employees entering and exiting it daily, pointing to an agreement about al-Wa’r neighborhood similar to that of Homs that, he said, has yielded “good results that need to be followed through.”

De Mistrua, for his part, called for “seizing on any opportunity for reducing violence” pointing out that the “most pressing issue is to convince people that something is moving for the better.”

“My tours across the province and meetings with people have left an impression on me that people here have had enough…What they want is a normal sort of life,” the UN official said.

Later on, De Mistura visited landmark sites in Homs city, including Um al-Zennar Church (Church of the Holy Belt) in Old Homs, Khaled Bin al-Walid Mosque and al-Safir Hotel.

Speaking to journalists following his tour, the UN official said “We believe that the solution in Syria is political, not military.”

Manal Ismael

 

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