UN envoy for Syria Pedersen visits Daramsuq, says there is hope for a sixth round of the Syrian Constitutional Committee

DARAMSUQ (DAMASCUS), Syria – Upon his arrival in the Syrian capital Daramsuq, UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen held talks and meetings with officials of the Syrian Ba’ath regime, including with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faisal Miqdad, to discuss ways to resume the meetings of the Constitutional Committee in Geneva between the Ba’ath regime Syria, the opposition, and civil society representatives.

Following the meeting, Pedersen said in a press briefing that the economic and humanitarian challenges in Syria were discussed, and the efforts that can be taken to overcome these challenges.

Pedersen added that, in light of the meeting, there is hope for the completion of the work of the Constitutional Committee, and it is possible to hold a sixth round of discussions with the Committee members. Pedersen met earlier this month with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov to discuss the resumption and expedition of the Geneva constitutional talks. Russia is one of the forces and decision makers behind the constitutional talks in Syria. Turkey and the Islamic Republic of Iran are the other two. Russia and Iran have troops on the ground in Syria in support of the Ba’ath regime. Turkey also has its army on the ground in Idlib and North and East Syria.

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It is noteworthy that all 5 previous rounds of the Committee have failed due to the intransigence of the Syrian Ba’ath regime and its refusal to build on points of agreement to achieve a common working method for a democratic and inclusive Syria.

Syriacs were represented in the 150-member committee but not in the smaller executive committee that will draft the new Syrian constitution. The Syriac organizations represented are not members of the Democratic Autonomous Administration – one of the Syriac organizations is even vehemently opposed to the DAA.

The Democratic Autonomous Administration, representing millions of Syrians, was not allowed to participate in the talks in Geneva by Turkey, Russia, Iran, and the Ba’ath Regime.