The UN Special Envoy for Syria stated that parties to the conflict in Syria will return to the negotiating table in October to discuss a new constitution. The Small Drafting Body will convene in Geneva as of 18 October, while the co-chairs and the envoy will prepare the session.
Geir Pedersen expressed regret that although the committee to draft the new constitution was agreed upon two years ago, no “steady progress on its mandate” has been achieved so far.
The envoy added, “I am pleased to announce that agreement is in place on methodology.”
“We should all now expect the Constitutional Committee to begin to work seriously on a process of drafting – not just preparing – a constitutional reform.”
Pedersen outlined the road to a “credible constitutional process” to pass from building trust among participants.
Regarding the summit between the presidents of Turkey and Russia on Wednesday, Pedersen expressed hope that it would “promote calm” within Syria. He urged sustained international support towards ending the brutal conflict through political processes.
The fifth round of meetings was held in January this year with the participation of delegates from the Assad regime, opposition, and civil society. A number of Western countries, along with the Syrian opposition, have accused Bashar al-Assad of deliberately delaying the drafting of a new constitution.
