UN Says Drafting New Syria Constitution Will Begin Monday

UN special envoy Geir Pedersen, who is facilitating meetings of the Constitutional Committee in Geneva, said its "dignified and forward-looking" opening session on Wednesday was followed by two days of "very successful" meetings, AP reported.

At those meetings, he said, the 150 committee members were invited to make opening statements "offering initial ideas on constitutional issues and suggestions for the drafting body."

He told reporters after the three days of initial meetings ended it isn't surprising that after 8 ½ years of conflict in Syria, "there are deep differences, a lot of suspicion, and a lack of trust."

But Pedersen said the fact that representatives from the government, opposition and civil society "have been sitting together, respecting each other, talking to each other ... was quite impressive." And he praised the co-chairs, Ahmad Kuzbari from the government and Hadi al-Bahra from the opposition, who will alternately chair future meetings.

The committee not only agreed on an agenda, Pedersen said, but on the 45-member drafting body and a code of conduct for the meetings — "and also for the future."

According to the code of conduct, all committee members should work "with commitment and good faith, in a collaborative manner, looking for solutions toward the completion of the Syrian-led, Syrian-owned, UN facilitated constitutional process."

It says members should also "deliberate with mutual respect, in a peaceful atmosphere conducive to constructive debates" and "refrain from inflammatory speeches and personal attacks." And members should "abstain from any acts that could be perceived as provocative" and "demonstrate high standards of integrity and judgment while publicly communicating," the code says.

When asked the timeline for the 45-member drafting body, Pedersen replied, "We will discuss that during the weekend."

Repeated UN efforts to host talks on ending the Syrian civil war have largely failed.

The committee met as the Syrian government has all but won the war militarily with the help of Russia and Iranian military advisers, leaving a last rebel stronghold in the northwestern province of Idlib.

UN chief Guterres stressed before the talks began that "meaningful engagement" by committee members must be accompanied by a cessation of hostilities across the country. He said that would facilitate "a broader political process" essential to bring peace to Syria.

An agreement to form a 150-member committee to draft a new constitution for Syria was reached at a Russian-hosted Syrian peace conference in the Black Sea resort of Sochi in January 2018.

There was early agreement on 50-member lists from the Syrian government and from the opposition. But it took nearly 20 months to agree on the list the United Nations was authorized to put together representing experts, independents, tribal leaders and women.