The new UN envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen (L) meets with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem in Damascus, Syria, Jan. 15, 2019. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said on Tuesday that his government is ready for joint efforts to seek a political solution to the more than seven-year war, state news agency SANA reported. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)