On November 30, local time, the fourth meeting of the Syrian Constitutional Council group opened at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, which is expected to last until December 4. No press conference was held after the first day of the meeting.
The UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria, Jill Peterson, said he expected the current round to make progress in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, which calls for a ceasefire and a political solution to the Syrian conflict, giving hope to millions of suffering Syrians.” In the current relatively calm situation in Syria, it should be possible to focus more on the political process and the full content of Security Council resolution 2254.
Peterson pointed out that after nearly 10 years of conflict, there is a lack of trust between the Syrian parties, and this deep mistrust must be overcome. This takes time and is a difficult process.
He said: “I hope that the progress we have made begins with confidence-building by all parties, and this confidence-building can open the door to the broader political process.”
Peterson also noted that the two co-chairs had agreed to discuss the Syrian state’s foundations and principles during the current round, and that constitutional-related issues will be discussed at the fifth meeting in January next year, which is a “package”.
The Syrian Constitutional Council was officially launched in Geneva at the end of October 2019. It is composed of 150 members, of which the Syrian government, opposition and civil society each account for one-third.
On this basis, 15 members are selected from each party’s representatives to form a panel of the Constitutional Council to be responsible for the specific work of constitutional amendment or drafting. The establishment of the Syrian Constitutional Council is an important step in Syria’s political process.
Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, more than 5 million Syrians have fled the border, and 6 million internally displaced persons and 13 million people need humanitarian assistance.
