Pederson: The work of the Constitution Discussion Committee must continue and be taken forward by the Syrians themselves

The Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General to Syria Geir Pedersen has confirmed that the discussions that took place during the meetings of the third round of the constitutional discussion committee will be based on the subsequent work stages.

Pedersen expressed his hope that the participating delegations will agree on the agenda of the next round and setting its date.

Pedersen said in a press conference after the conclusion of the third round meetings in Geneva on August 29 that the participating delegations expressed their eagerness to meet again to build on the discussions that took place during this round, pointing out that there are significant differences between the participating delegations.

The UN envoy stressed that the constitution discussion committee is under the leadership of Syria, and that what he is looking forward that the Committee will meet again and move forward with this process.

He indicated that the work of the committee should be continuous and build on what it has achieved during its course of work, pointing out that there is strong support from the international community, the UN Security Council and the Astana Process for the work of the committee.

Pedersen stressed that the progress in the committee’s work is in the hands of the Syrians themselves and expressed his hope that the next round will be held in Geneva.

On August 29, the meetings of the third round of the mini-committee to discuss the constitution concluded at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva with the participation of the national delegation and other delegations.

A source close for the meetings said that the meetings of this round were part of the agenda entitled “Basic National Principles”, where the national delegation presented many national principles, most notably national identity and cultural diversity as two basic principles that can be built upon in the subsequent stages of the committee’s work.

O. al-Mohammad