Statement of behalf of the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura

UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura held consultations with the Foreign Ministers of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Turkey in Geneva today.

These consultations were a key part of the Special Envoy’s intensive effort at the request of the Secretary-General to fundamentally advance the possibility of establishing a Syrian-owned, Syrian-led, UN-facilitated constitutional committee in order to draft for popular approval a constitutional reform, as a contribution to the political settlement in Syria that gives effect to the Sochi Final Statement of 30 January 2018, within the context of the Geneva process to implement Security Council resolution 2254 (2015).

The three Foreign Ministers offered the Special Envoy a significant joint input regarding the constitutional committee.

The Special Envoy, in close consultation with the Secretary-General, believes that there is an extra mile to go in the marathon effort to ensure the necessary package for a credible, balanced and inclusive constitutional committee – and for including a balanced chairing arrangement and drafting body and voting threshold – to be established under UN auspices in Geneva.

The Special Envoy will further consult with the Secretary-General in New York and brief the Security Council on 20 December 2018.

He underscores the Secretary-General’s appreciation of the intensive work by the Astana guarantors among each other and with the Syrian parties, and the results of other high-level meetings including the Danang statement of 11 November 2017 and the Istanbul statement of 27 October 2018. He stresses the determination of the United Nations to continue its efforts for the Syrian people. He underlines the importance of the international community uniting as one in the period ahead to enable the political process as mandated by the Security Council to move forward.

Geneva, 18 December 2018