Constitutional Committee Concludes First Day of Seventh Session

Geneva

The work of the first day of the seventh session of the meetings of the Constitutional Committee, which discusses four constitutional principles over the course of the week, was concluded on Monday evening. Delegations discuss one principle every day, provided that the participating Syrian parties amend the drafts presented in the previous days to be resubmitted on the fifth day of the meetings in accordance with the observations and suggestions they heard from the rest of the parties, in an attempt to reach drafts agreed by consensus.

On Sunday, Pedersen announced during a press conference that the parties to the Constitutional Committee had agreed to discuss four principles: basics of governance, the state identity, state symbols, and the structure and functions of public authorities.

Upon concluding the work of the first day, Hadi al-Bahra, co-chair of the Syrian Constitutional Committee, said “The representatives of the Syrian Negotiating Committee today presented the proposed draft on the principle of basics of governance and the foundations on which it is based, and listened to the observations and suggestions of the other parties and responded to them.”

Al-Bahra added, “Over the next two days, each of the other two parties will present proposed drafts regarding the state identity and the state symbols. On the fourth day, our representatives will present the proposed draft regarding the organization and work of public authorities, and I reiterate the need for committee members from all parties to make efforts to amend the drafts which they submitted during the first four days of meetings to be presented in their amended form on the last day of meetings, drawing views closer together in view to try to reach consensus on a unified draft for each of these four principles.”

He added, “The magnitude of the tragedy experienced by our people and the sacrifices that have been made oblige us all to work continuously and expeditiously to accomplish the sole mission of the constitutional committee, which is to draft a new constitution for Syria. This highlights the need for the three parties to be willing and serious in their endeavors to reach understandings and consensus as the outcomes of the Constitutional Committee vitally contribute to the political solution that leads to the full and strict implementation of Security Council Resolution No. 2254 (2015). This is possible if all parties adhere to the methodology and the agreed working rules of the Constitutional Committee, and no disruption or procrastination occurs.  We hope that the agreed discussion methodology leads to tangible results as soon as possible.”

The work of the seventh session of the meetings of the Syrian Constitutional Committee will continue until the end of this week. The Special Envoy to Syria, Geir A. Pedersen is to give an overall briefing at the end of it.