The first day of the work of the Syrian “Constitutional Committee” .. “positive” impressions and an attempt to avoid differences

A “historic moment”, this is how the UN envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, described the start of the negotiation process on the Syrian constitution, with the start of the work of the “Constitutional Committee” yesterday, Wednesday, in Geneva.

150 Syrian figures, who equally represent the regime, the opposition, and civil society, met to discuss drafting a new constitution in the hope of moving the waters of a political solution in Syria.

Most of the members of the Constitutional Committee announced their optimism about the first step, after the work of the first day of the meetings of the Constitutional Committee ended in Geneva.

“The Constitution belongs to the people”

The committee’s work began during an opening session chaired by Pedersen, in which he addressed the attendees by saying that “the task you will undertake is a historic one, represented in laying the groundwork for a social contract for the Syrians after nearly nine years of violent conflict, suffering, divisions and lack of trust,” adding that “ The constitutional reform process is a good entry point for healing.”

The UN envoy indicated that the Constitutional Committee is authorized to write a draft of the constitutional amendment and submit it to a popular referendum, considering that “the constitution belongs to the Syrian people alone, and it is they who decide the future of their country, and the role of the United Nations is limited to facilitating the work of the committee to discuss the constitution.”