The United Nations Special Envoy to Syria on Sunday called for "justice and accountability" in the country, rather than acts of revenge, following the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad.
"We need to see justice and accountability for crimes, and it must go through a credible justice system. We must ensure that no acts of revenge take place," Geir Pedersen said upon his arrival in Damascus.
Assad fled Syria last weekend following an 11-day rebel offensive led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), marking the dramatic end of more than 50 years of brutal Assad family rule.
According to Pedersen, "The change we are witnessing after the fall of the Assad regime is immense, and of course, that change itself creates great hopes."
"But we all know that there are many challenges still ahead. So, we need to get this right from the very beginning."
The UN envoy, who was set to meet with officials from Syria's transitional government, urged a "political process that is inclusive of all Syrians."
"That process must obviously be led by the Syrians themselves, with help and assistance from the international community," he added.
In recent days, Pedersen has emphasized the need for an "inclusive" transition to prevent a "new civil war," similar to the one Syrians have endured since 2011, which was sparked by the Assad government's violent crackdown on anti-government protests.
HTS, which spearheaded the offensive that toppled Assad, is rooted in Syria's Al-Qaeda branch and is designated a "terrorist" organization by many Western governments.
"There are various sanctions imposed by member states/entities on Syria, HTS, and others," said Pedersen's spokeswoman, Jenifer Fenton, in an emailed statement to AFP.
Pedersen also addressed "the whole issue of economic recovery," stating, "We need to see that this is addressed quickly. We hope to see a quick end to sanctions so we can rally efforts to rebuild Syria."
He further called for an increase in humanitarian aid to support Syrians.
"Syria has gone through an enormous humanitarian crisis. We need to ensure that Syria receives immediate humanitarian assistance, both for those inside the country and for the refugees who wish to return. This is critically important."
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