Lavrov: Basic Principles of Future Syrian State Laid down in Sochi
SOCHI- A statement laying down basic principles of the future Syrian state and government was passed during the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in a statement after the congress on Tuesday.
“During the congress, a statement containing basic principles of the future Syrian state was approved. Those principles are nothing new. Those are the key norms of the international law – respecting sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Syria; protecting of rights of all ethnic and religious groups; and ensuring that the political process does not leave anyone out and allows Syrians to determine their future on their own, without any interference from abroad,” Lavrov said, according to Itar Tass.
“It (the Sochi congress) is very strong support to the Geneva process, to the United Nations’ role, of course, on the basis of Resolution 2254, which means that any steps are to be subject to mutual consent between the government and the opposition.
“Nothing can be done without consent from the government and the opposition,” Lavrov stressed.
Another Astana meeting on Syria due in late February: Lavrentyev
Russian president’s special envoy for Syrian settlement Alexander Lavrentyev said on Tuesday after the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi that another meeting of the Syrian ceasefire guarantor nations – Russia, Iran and Turkey – will be held in Kazakhstan’s capital city of Astana in late February,
“Another meeting in the Astana format is scheduled for late February,” he said. “There is plenty for us, representatives of the three ceasefire guarantor nations, to discuss. So, we invite you to Astana.”
150-member Syrian constitutional committee agreed to at Sochi congress
The Syrian National Dialogue Congress meeting in Sochi has agreed to create a committee of 150 members that will work on drafting a constitutional reform. The body is expected to operate under the auspices of the UN in Geneva, RT reported.
“A Constitutional Committee is to be formed, comprising the government of the Syrian Arab republic delegation along with a wide-represented opposition delegation for drafting a constitutional reform,” UN special envoy to Syria Staffan De Mistura said, addressing the Congress.
“In your final declaration today you’ve embraced 12 principles, developed in the Geneva political process, which describes a vision of Syria, that all Syrians should be able to share,” he added.
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