The drafting body of the Constitutional Committee on Friday concluded its first meeting at the United Nations Office in Geneva. The UN envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, said that the date of the next session will be on November 25.
In a press conference at the end of the first meeting of the drafting body, Pedersen stressed the importance of discussing the rest of the baskets, especially the baskets of governance and elections. He stressed that the discussion of the Constitution alone is not enough to bring about a political solution in Syria.
Head of the Syrian Negotiations Commission, Nasr Al-Hariri, reaffirmed the commitment of the Commission’s representatives in the Constitutional Committee to the unity, independence of the Syrian people and Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty as well as the pursuit of the desired political transition meeting the aspirations of the Syrian people and the relevant international resolutions, especially the Geneva Communique of 2012 and UN resolution 2254.
For his part, Co-chair of the Constitutional Committee, Hadi Al-Bahra, pointed out that the first round of talks ended with a discussion of the ideas and suggestions put forward by members of the expanded committee at the start of the meeting.
Al-Bahra also stressed that the members of the Constitutional Committee are on an important national mission, stressing that the new constitution should include all Syrians and contain all ideas and visions as well as put and end to an era that saw tremendous sacrifices and ensure the return of refugees to a homeland for all Syrians.
Moreover, Al-Bahra stressed the need for the constitution to guarantee human dignity, guarantee freedom and equal rights, and highlight the diversity of Syrian society and its diverse culture. “There is an obligation on us to be loyal to our country and our people as well as draw up together a draft constitution in which the Syrian people are the decision makers.” (Source: Syrian National Coalition’s Media Department)
