The United Nations Office at Geneva

Multimedia Newsroom

Edited News Press Conferences Statements Images B-roll Conferences Upcoming All Stories
Register Login
Syrian Constitutional Committee press conference : Co-chair Ahmad Kuzbari (Government of Syria)
/
5:30
/
MP4
/
350.2 MB

Press Conferences | UNITED NATIONS

Syrian Consitutional Committee press conference 04 December 2020

ENG

Continuity footage from a press conference with UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, Friday 4 December 2020, at UN Geneva Palais des Nations.

Continuity footage from a press conference with Syrian Constitutional Committee co-chair Ahmad Kuzbari (Government of Syria), Friday 4 December 2020, at UN Geneva Palais des Nations.

Continuity footage from a press conference with Syrian Constitutional Committee co-chair for the Opposition Hadi Albahra, Friday 4 December 2020, at UN Geneva Palais des Nations.

Continuity footage from the press conference on Friday at UN Geneva, at the end of the fifth and final day of the Syrian Constitutional Committee discussions at the Palais des Nations, with UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen.

Ahead of the meeting, the UN negotiator said that the two Syrian co-chairs had agreed to discuss national foundations and principles, while constitutional matters would be on the agenda at a fifth meeting in the new year. “(The fourth meeting) would be followed up with a fifth session in January which will focus on constitutional principles, or basic principles of the constitution, so this is obviously a package,” he told journalists attending the press conference remotely, in line with COVID-19 prevention measures.

An equal number of delegates from the Government, opposition and civil society have taken part in the discussions in the Swiss city. Numbering 45 in total, the forum is known collectively as the “Small Body”.

 

 

Teleprompter
So good afternoon once again.
Thank you for joining us.
If you're joining us in the room, you should still have the option to listen in English or in Arabic.
English is on 2, Arabic is on 7.
If you're an accredited join journalist joining us on the line.
Once again, I'd be grateful if your login includes your media affiliation.
It helps me to identify you.
I'll now turn the floor over to the Co chair nominated, nominated by the government.
Doctor Kuzbari, the floor is yours.
Good evening.
We just concluded the fourth round of the in Constitutional Committee.
During the 3rd and 4th rounds, the agenda was to discuss national principles.
Our delegation in the third round presented a number of principles, such as the national identity and cultural diversity.
And at this round we made the interventions regarding the return of refugees, as well as the pressed separatist project or a separatist agenda and the countering such projects.
And we went back also to the humanitarian issue, the need to address it urgently, since it affects all Syrian people.
And we also spoke about the unilateral coercive measures, the unfair unilateral measures that are imposed on the Syrian people.
Our delegation participated very positively.
We engaged positively and we made good interventions, good contributions.
Most contributions showed an openness and these discussions to discuss any, any issue or any point and to feel that any point can be a national principle which can be examined when we move on to discuss the constitutional principles.
As you know, we have agreed on a fifth round to be held at the end of January.
We also agreed on agenda, on an agenda discussion of constitutional principles and the basic constitutional principles, and we are ready to take questions.
I'll take the first question as I see them first hand.
I see is Musa.
Musa, your question please.
Doctor, I live in the the, the, the contributions that we made or that were made on our behalf were contributions that were related to important issues for the Syrian people.
There was no detailed discussion of the our contributions.
The other side did not discuss our issues.
Other issues were raised.
Some referred to certain constitutional principles that we did not react to because this was not on the agenda for this round.
It's on the agenda for the next round.
We were supposed to discuss national principles at this round.
Your second point question, there was a violation of the Code of Conduct and the Rules of Procedure by the Co Chair, Mr.
Al Bahra and This is why some members of our delegation objected and we hope that it will not be repeated in the future.
And of course, Mr Peterson therefore concluded decision and announced the date for the next round.
Thank you.
Are there any further questions?
I don't see a hand raised online.
If there are any further questions in the room, please identify yourself.
Otherwise, I'll thank Doctor Kuzvari for his time.
Thank you all for making it here in person.
Greatly appreciated.
Good evening.