Sweden Amb to UN Skoog: Kurds have 'hugely important role' in Iraq, Syria

Sweden's Ambassador to the UN Olof Skoog served as the president of the Security Council for July 2018. He speaks with Rudaw's Majeed Gly about the Syria conflict, Kurdish issues, and broader topics in the Middle East and around the globe. Skoog expresses that he is against grandstanding in the Security Council because it hurts the UN's impact on the ground.

In Syria, Skoog sees a political solution as the only answer. Regarding US-Russian relations, he emphasizes that personal relationships within the Council are good, but outside rhetoric may differ. He dismisses the idea that Western powers have given up in Syria and Russia is running the show, but acknowledges a general 'disappointment.'

Gly asks if Kurdish groups in Syria are under represented on the world stage. Skoog says he is in favor of meeting non-state actors and those who can make a difference because he wants to understand, but also because the Kurdish population has played a huge role in Iraq and Syria.