UNITED NATIONS, June 16 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen said Tuesday that he intends to convene a new session of the Syrian Constitutional Committee, probably at the end of August.
"I am ready to convene and facilitate a third session of the Syrian-led and Syrian-owned Constitutional Committee," Pedersen told a virtual meeting of the Security Council. "Conscious that global travel restrictions remain in place, I am hopeful that a session in Geneva may be possible toward the end of August."
However, he cautioned that the realities facing the Syrian people cannot be solely addressed by discussing the constitution.
The Syrian parties will face great difficulties in resolving Syria's problems without real diplomacy among the key international players with influence. After all, there are still five international armies operating across the country and, active measures by many countries as regards Syria, he said.
"There are real and substantive differences among those international players, as there are between the Syrian parties. ... Unlocking progress will need mutual and reciprocal steps, on the basis of clear understandings, by the Syrian parties and by international partners."
Syria is going through a time of great flux. Nobody involved in the conflict should presume that time is on their side. Nobody should be sure there will be better openings down the road. What is required is the readiness of all to deal seriously with the realities of the conflict, said Pedersen.
The Constitutional Committee, which comprises representatives of the Syrian government, the opposition, and civil society, was officially launched in Geneva on Oct. 30, 2019. The committee has yet to agree on an agenda. Enditem
