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UN envoy seeks to re-launch Syrian peace talks
Geneva, April 19 (IANS/AKI) United Nations special envoy Staffan de Mistura is spearheading a fresh diplomatic push for a “meaningful re-launch” of UN-led talks to end the devastating Syrian conflict, de Mistura’s office has announced.
In a statement released late on Wednesday, de Mistura is said to be engaged in “high-level consultations… with the aim of proactively ascertaining the options” for kick-starting the UN-facilitated political process as called for in Security Council resolution 2254.
Voted unanimously by the 15-member body in 2015, the resolution calls for free and fair elections for all Syrians and a newly-drafted Constitution as the basis for a Syrian-led, Syrian owned process to end the conflict.
More than seven years of war in Syria between rebels and forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, displaced millions and razed entire cities to the ground, the UN said.
De Mistura has conducted nine rounds of negotiations between the warring Syrian sides. The eighth round of talks held in Geneva in December collapsed and were followed by Vienna talks in late January.
As part of his bid to re-launch the Syrian peace talks, de Mistura met Foreign Ministers from several countries taking part in an Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia last weekend.
The veteran negotiator was due to head this week to Turkey, Russia and Iran for discussions with senior officials, according to his team.
De Mistura is also expected to consult European ministers and senior representatives from the US at a conference in Brussels on April 24-25 to support Syria and the Middle East including bolstering the UN-led peace process.
The statement by follows a warning by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres at the weekend that tensions risk escalating beyond Syria.
Guterres’ call came in response to air strikes by the US, France and Britain which followed an alleged chemical weapons attack on the rebel enclave of Douma outside Damascus on April 7 which the Syrian government denies it was behind.
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) reported on Wednesday that a UN-led security team sent to assess the sites of the suspected attacks and prepare for the arrival of OPCW inspectors was forced to withdraw after it came under gunfire and an explosive was detonated.
“At present, we do not know when the (Fact-finding Mission) team can be deployed to Douma,” OPCW chief Ahmet Uzumcu said.
The OPCW team is due to look into the alleged use of toxic chemicals, reportedly chlorine, at the sites which reportedly left dozens dead and dozens more injured.
–IANS/AKI
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.