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Iran, Russia, Turkey agree to boost efforts aimed at Syrian constitutional committee

SHAFAQNAThe Islamic Republic of Iran, Russia and Turkey have agreed to ramp up efforts for supporting the launch of a Syrian-led political process for the composition of Syria [1]’s inclusive constitution.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Russian and Turkish counterparts Sergei Lavrov and Mevlut Cavusoglu, respectively, met in the Swiss city of Geneva with the outgoing UN envoy for Syria in Geneva on Tuesday.

Sergei Lavrov, reading out a joint statement after meeting , said the work of the new body “should be governed by a sense of compromise and constructive engagement.”

Lavrov described the meeting as very positive, stressing that Moscow, Tehran, and Ankara are committed to Syria’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

The top Russian diplomat added that the three countries support the launch of a Syrian-led political process for the composition of Syria’s inclusive constitution, Press TV reported.

De Mistura, UN’s special envoy, said in a separate statement that “more efforts are required” to ensure a credible, balanced constitutional committee for Syria.

The Italian-Swedish diplomat, who has been the UN’s peace envoy since July 2014, went on to say that he would brief UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the results of Geneva talks on Wednesday, and the UN Security Council on Thursday.

De Mistura, who steps down on December 31, expected his successor Geir Pedersen to build on his work and “focus on the purely political aspect” to end the Syrian crisis.

Syria’s constitutional committee is part of the Sochi agreement, and will include 50 members from the incumbent Damascus government and 50 opposition members. The final 50 members will be independent and chosen by the United Nations.

“We always insisted on a political solution led and owned by Syrians. The West has now been compelled to accept this. But it needs to facilitate; not dictate”, Zarif tweeted earlier on Tuesday.

 

Read more from Shafaqna:

Zarif, Lavrov discussed Syria crisis [2]

Astana peace conference on Syria: The guarantor states failed to achieve a UN-backed constitutional committee [3]