The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Syrian Constitutional Committee agrees to continue discussions, says UN negotiator
UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen announced on Friday in Geneva that initial discussions on a new foundational document for the war-torn country by its opposing parties have been “successful” and will resume in two weeks.
“The two Co-Chairs have agreed to meet here in Geneva again in 14 days. So the next round of discussions will start on 25 November,” he told journalists in the Swiss city.
Describing the discussions in addition as “intensive” among the 45 members of the drafting body - comprising 15 members nominated by the Government of Syria, 15 members nominated by the Opposition and 15 members from civil society – Mr. Pedersen said that all issues related to the conflict on Syria and of relevance to developing a new constitution had been addressed.
“They have started to listen to each other very seriously,” he insisted. “They of course, these are sometimes very painful discussions and it takes courage to sit and listen to the other side presenting its views on these issues. But I think they have begun to address both difficult and painful issues and I think it is fair to say that the discussions have been very professional.”
Explaining that discussions had been guided by an agreed code of conduct, the UN Envoy said he expected next steps to be decided after all 150 delegates who had participated in last week’s larger Syrian Constitutional Committee meetings in Geneva had had their say.
“Obviously, you know, no secret, that they have been discussing issues related to Syria’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, they have obviously been discussing issues related to terrorism, they have been discussing issues related to the importance of State institutions, they have been discussing issues related to the rule of law, the importance of that, the separation of powers, all issues you could imagine which is of relevance to developing a Constitution.”
Mr. Pedersen also reiterated his previous words of caution that the Syrian Constitutional Committee “in itself is not a solution to the conflict”, before pointing to the significance of “recent developments on the ground”, in reference ongoing violence in northwest and northeast Syria.
In a separate press conference, Ahmad Kuzbari, Co-Chair for the Government of Syria, insisted that his delegation had “not come to build a new State. The Syrian Arab Republic is a State; it has a Constitution and a Parliament and a Government, an army and institutions. We came here to reform the Constitution, we already said that this reform could be through amending some of the provisions of the current applicable Constitution of 2012 and which remain applicable until the last minute, until the Syrian people decide on a new Constitution. We also said we are open to (inaudible) a new Constitution we don’t want; we could draft a new Constitution as long as it meets the objectives of the Syrian State, as long as it preserves national constants, and first and foremost, the Syrian people must approve it.”
Meanwhile, Hadi Albahra, Co-Chair for the Opposition noted that the discussions “should be above all differences and should be the unifying contract of all the Syrians. We’re talking about a Constitution that will help us turn a page full of suffering and sacrifices. We are talking about a Constitution that will bring back the refuges from the diaspora to their homeland. We are talking about a Constitution that will take the IDPs to their homes and their homeland. We’re talking about a Constitution that will bring back the refugees from Lebanon, from (inaudible), from Jordan, from Turkey and from across the world to a country that is one for all.”
Highlighting the enormity of the challenge that lies ahead in future discussions, Mr. Albahra listed some of the issues that were of particular importance to his delegation: “We noticed of course in the beginning there were points without contention, for example the unity, the sovereignty of Syria, the unity of the Syrian people. These are given matters that no two people would object to. But what about the new future, what is the new Parliament, how are we going to address the imperatives of the coming to terms, the IDPs, the refugees, the migrants, the transitional justice, the detainees. We are talking about a whole generation, the generation that was born at the beginning of the crisis; they are now 10 years old.”
- Exterior shot, Palais des Nations flag alley.
- Medium shot, journalists, podium with UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen and spokesperson Jenifer Fenton, Room III.
- Close up, onlookers, profile.
- Wide shot, podium and projection screens, Room III
- SOUNDBITE (English) — UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen: “The two Co-Chairs have agreed to meet here in Geneva again in 14 days. So the next round of discussions will start on 25 November.”
- Medium shot, journalists, TV crews, Room III.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen: “They have started to listen to each other very seriously. They of course, these are sometimes very painful discussions and it takes courage to sit and listen to the other side presenting its views on these issues. But I think they have begun to address both difficult and painful issues and I think it is fair to say that the discussions have been very professional.”
- Medium shot, observers conferring, Room III.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen: “All the issues related to the conflict on Syria and of relevance to developing a new constitution have been addressed.”
- Medium shot, photographer, Room III.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen: “Obviously, you know, no secret, that they have been discussing issues related to Syria’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, they have obviously been discussing issues related to terrorism, they have been discussing issues related to the importance of State institutions, they have been discussing issues related to the rule of law, the importance of that, the separation of powers, all issues you could imagine which is of relevance to developing a Constitution.”
- Medium shot, journalists, Room III.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Ahmad Kuzbari, Co-Chair, Government: “We did not come to build a new State. The Syrian Arab Republic is a State; it has a Constitution and a Parliament and a Government, an army and institutions. We came here to reform the Constitution, we already said that this reform could be through amending some of the provisions of the current applicable Constitution of 2012 and which remain applicable until the last minute, until the Syrian people decide on a new Constitution. We also said we are open to (inaudible) a new Constitution we don’t want; we could draft a new Constitution as long as it meets the objectives of the Syrian State, as long as it preserves national constants, and first and foremost, the Syrian people must approve it.”
- Medium shot, journalists, Room III.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Hadi Albahra, Co-Chair, Opposition: “It should be above all differences and should be the unifying contract of all the Syrians. We’re talking about a Constitution that will help us turn a page full of suffering and sacrifices. We are talking about a Constitution that will bring back the refuges from the diaspora to their homeland. We are talking about a Constitution that will take the IDPs to their homes and their homeland. We’re talking about a Constitution that will bring back the refugees from Lebanon, from (inaudible), from Jordan, from Turkey and from across the world to a country that is one for all.”
- Medium shot, journalists, Room III.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Hadi Albahra, Co-Chair, Opposition: “We noticed of course in the beginning there were points without contention, for example the unity, the sovereignty of Syria, the unity of the Syrian people. These are given matters that no two people would object to. But what about the new future, what is the new Parliament, how are we going to address the imperatives of the coming to terms, the IDPs, the refugees, the migrants, the transitional justice, the detainees. We are talking about a whole generation, the generation that was born at the beginning of the crisis; they are now 10 years old.”
- Medium shot, photographer, TV camera operator, journalists, Room III
- Medium shot, journalists, podium, Room III.
- Medium shot, photographer, crouching, Room III.
- Wide shot, podium.
- Wide shot, up, UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen leaving Room III with entourage and TV camera following, Room III.
- Medium shot, UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen leaving Room III with aide and TV camera following, Room III.
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The appointment on Thursday of Karla Quintana as head of the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic is a key development after nearly a year and a half of work by the UN Human Rights Office supporting the institution’s launch.
1
1
1
Edited News | IOM , UNICEF , UNRWA , WHO
The head of the UN migration agency stressed on Friday that Syria is in no position to take back millions of Syrians following the fall of the Assad regime, while there is an urgent need to “re-evaluate” sanctions impacting the war-ravaged country.
1
1
1
Edited News | IIIM , UNHCR
Syria: ‘Key priority’ is to preserve evidence of crimes – UN investigators
In Syria, new access to evidence of horrific human rights violations means that accountability may be closer than ever – if only proof can be preserved, a top UN investigator said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OSE , ICRC , UNHCR
Syria: UN and partners urge action to preserve evidence of prison atrocities, stabilize country
Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria five days ago, hundreds of people have rushed to Saydnaya prison, desperate to find loved ones. Disturbing images from the prison and other detention centers have since surfaced, exposing the “unimaginable barbarity Syrians have endured for years,” said Jenifer Fenton, spokesperson for the UN special envoy for Syria, on Friday.
1
1
2
Edited News | UNRWA
Gaza: “Sickening normalisation” of suffering, amid attacks on people and aid convoys
Ongoing military operations by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) in Gaza continue to devastate Palestinian children and families, with mounting casualties and a critical lack of humanitarian aid for the desperate population.
“Local media reporting here that last night, 30 people were killed in this area in strikes” said a senior emergency officer with the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), Louise Wateridge, speaking to reporters in Geneva from central Gaza.
2
1
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | OHCHR
Rights experts call for end to impunity for Israel’s violations of international law
Four independent human rights experts have jointly called for the international community to sanction Israel’s conduct of hostilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as well as in the wider Middle East region - including in Syria, Lebanon and Iran. They also called for the restoration of trust in the international justice system through the abandonment of “extreme interpretations” and “double standards” in the application of the universal norms regulating the conduct of war.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , UNHCR
Syria: needs continue to grow amid highly uncertain situation, say aid teams
The historic power shift in Syria and the still volatile situation two days after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime have increased humanitarian needs in a country where nearly 17 million people, including millions of internally displaced, already depended on humanitarian aid before the recent events, UN aid teams said on Tuesday.
2
1
3
Edited News , Press Conferences | OSES
Barely 48 hours since opposition forces including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) swept into Damascus and forced out President Bashar al-Assad, the top UN negotiator tasked with helping Syrians’ create a peaceful and democratic future insisted that nothing could be taken for granted.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday called on States to do all in their power to end senseless conflicts and suffering.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
No evacuation order given before Kamal Adwan Hospital strike, says WHO
One of the last partially functional health centres in northern Gaza was reportedly hit again overnight into Friday by several strikes, leaving four health workers among the casualties and the dead, according to the UN World Health Organization (WHO).
2
1
2
Edited News , Press Conferences | OCHA
More than 280,000 people have been uprooted in northwest Syria in a matter of days following the sudden and massive offensive into Government-controlled areas led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is sanctioned by the Security Council as a terrorist group.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk has called on the Georgian authorities to respect and protect the rights to freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly following several nights of protests that were marred by violence, and dispersed using disproportionate, and in some cases unnecessary, force by the police in the capital, Tbilisi.