Syria parties agree to Geneva talks, UN envoy says

Discussions on a new constitution that could pave the way for an end to the war have been ongoing but halted over splits and the pandemic

The Constitutional Committee Co-Chair Ahmad Kuzbari (L) from the Government, Geir O. Pedersen (C), Special Envoy for Syria and The Constitutional Committee Co-Chair Hadi al-Bahra (R) from the opposition, during the meeting at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva. EPAShow less

Opposing sides in Syria's conflict have agreed to reconvene in Geneva for negotiations on the constitution, United Nations Special Envoy Geir Pedersen said on Tuesday, adding that a lull in fighting could provide an opportunity to start healing "deep, deep mistrust" between them.

After nine years of conflict in Syria, Mr Pedersen referred to "relative calm" in the last rebel-held enclave of Idlib as an opportunity for building confidence. He urged the United States and Russia, who support opposing sides, to start talks and back the peace process.

"As soon as the pandemic situation allows, they have agreed to come to Geneva and they have agreed on an agenda for the next meeting," he told journalists.

He did not give a date for the constitutional committee, which struggled to make headway last year, and said that a virtual meeting would not be possible.

In the same briefing, Mr Pedersen also repeated a message made to the UN Security Council on Monday and urged the United States and Russia to talk about a push for peace.

"We need this to start somewhere," he said. "The Constitutional Committee could be that arena where confidence starts to build."

Mr Pedersen is the fourth UN envoy to try to mediate peace in Syria where rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad are holding onto a last piece of territory in the northwest.

Fighting has calmed since March when Turkey, which backs some groups opposed to Mr Al Assad, agreed a ceasefire with Russia.

Mr Pedersen said it was a "great relief" that there had not been more Covid-19 cases in the country, although warned of the risk of a wider spread. He said there had been 64 cases.