UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- European Union members on the UN Security Council on Wednesday asked the political actors in Syria, particularly the government, to engage in the early convening of a constitutional committee.
"We call on all parties, but specifically Damascus, to constructively engage with the (UN) special envoy with the aim of, as quickly as possible and without any further delays, convening a credible and inclusive constitutional committee," read a statement of the EU members on the council.
The statement was endorsed by Britain, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland -- the current EU members of the Security Council -- and Belgium, Germany and Italy.
Belgium and Germany will become council members next year. Italy split a two-year council term with the Netherlands.
The EU countries called on Russia, Iran and Turkey -- the so-called Astana guarantors -- to ensure that the current cease-fire in Idlib province is upheld. They asked for a comprehensive nationwide cease-fire and for safe, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access throughout the country.
"We fully believe that the Idlib cease-fire agreement should be an opportunity for the urgent resumption of the UN-led political process in Geneva," said the statement, read to reporters by Swedish ambassador Olof Skoog.
The EU countries expressed their full support for the efforts of UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura to establish urgently a credible and legitimate constitutional committee to advance the United Nations' efforts to achieve a sustainable political solution to the conflict in Syria.
"We underscore the special envoy's authority to establish an inclusive constitutional committee, including the participation of a minimum of 30 percent women, that will begin the work of drafting a new Syrian constitution and laying the ground work for free and fair UN-supervised elections consistent with Security Council Resolution 2254."
De Mistura, who briefed the Security Council on the situation in Syria on Wednesday morning, said he would step down in November.
As a result, October becomes a crucial month for him to verify whether the constitutional committee has any chance to be a credible and sustainable idea, he told reporters after the Security Council meeting.
The Idlib cease-fire, which is "terribly important," provides a unique window of opportunity for the establishment and launching of a credible and inclusive constitutional committee, he explained.
"Our assessment is that if there is a political will, there is no reason -- no reason whatsoever -- for the constitutional committee not to be able to be convened during the month of November," said de Mistura.
The main reason for the delay, he explained, is the Syrian government's difficulties to accept the final list of committee members prepared by the United Nations.
He said he would travel to Damascus in the next few days to get the Syrian government on board.
De Mistura said he would report back in November to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the Security Council for them to draw conclusions on this issue. He expressed the hope that the conclusions will help his successor start from clear and clean ground.
Explaining his decision to quit the job, de Mistura said he wanted to have more time with his family.
"It's not health, it's family basically," he said. "It is actually because there is also a family, which deserves, after four years and four months, a little bit of attention."
