Decision of So-Called “Syrian Negotiations Committee” to Boycott Sochi Congress not to Affect Forum

MOSCOW- The decision of the so-called “Syrian Negotiations Committee” to boycott the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi would not affect the forum, a source at the Russian Foreign Ministry told TASS on Saturday.

“No, of course, it would not affect. We have invited everyone, who want; those who do not want would not participate,” the source said, adding “the Congress would be without them, unfortunately, that’s it.”

According to Itar Tass, The vote took place late on Friday. According to sources familiar with the situation, 26 out of 36 members voted against participation, which is enough to take the decision.

 The committee’s head Nasr al-Hariri announced the decision at a news conference on Saturday.

The guarantors of the Syrian ceasefire – Russia, Iran and Turkey – announced at a meeting held in Kazakhstan’s capital of Astana in December 2017 that the Syrian National Dialogue Congress would take place in Russia’s Black Sea resort of Sochi on January 29-30. Participants will discuss a new Syrian constitution and preparations for elections.

De Mistura to attend Russia-sponsored talks in Sochi

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has decided to send a representative to attend the Russian-brokered intra-Syria talks in Sochi, Guterres’ spokesman said Saturday.

Guterres has designated Staffan de Mistura, UN special envoy for Syria, to participate in the Congress of the Syrian National Dialogue scheduled for Monday and Tuesday in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, said in a statement.

Guterres made the decision after being briefed by de Mistura and taking into account the statement by Russia that the outcome of the Sochi talks should be brought to Geneva as a contribution to the intra-Syrian talks process under the auspices of the United Nations, said the statement released in Addis Ababa.

“The secretary-general is confident that the congress in Sochi will be an important contribution to a revived intra-Syrian talks process under the auspices of the United Nations in Geneva,” said the statement.

H.M