Syria talks end on positive note after Covid-19 scare

Rival members find common ground despite ending the latest constitutional discussions without agreeing an agenda

UN special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen, left, and Hadi Al Bahra, co-chair for the Syrian opposition, talk during a meeting of Syria's Constitutional Committee in Geneva last October. Reuters

Talks on a new constitution for Syria ended Saturday in Geneva without concrete progress, but the UN mediator said those who attended found commonalities and were keen to meet again.

UN special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, said he hoped the talks between representatives of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad's government, the opposition and civil society could eventually pave the way for a broader political process in the country.

But the latest round of discussions ended without even an agreement on an agenda or date for the next session.

Mr Pedersen said there were still strong disagreements between the sides after nearly a decade of conflict in Syria.

But he said he was "extremely pleased to hear the two co-chairs [of the government and opposition delegations] saying very clearly that they thought also there were quite a few areas of commonalities".

The chief opposition negotiator, Hadi Al Bahra, was also optimistic.

He said that while "there were certain points of disagreements ... I believe the commonalities were larger than the differences".

A source with the Syrian government delegation, meanwhile, told Syrian state news agency Sana that the delegations were "keen on continuing to work openly in upcoming rounds".

Mr Pedersen said he received a clear message from all sides that they were eager to meet again, which he said was encouraging.

The meeting marked the first UN attempt to resume in-person diplomatic negotiations in Geneva since the coronavirus pandemic forced the city to close down in March.

Mr Pedersen acknowledged that the discussions got off to a difficult start.

Only hours after the talks began on August 24, they were put on hold after four delegates tested positive for Covid-19.

The committee members – 15 each from the government, the opposition and from civil society – were tested for the disease before they travelled to Geneva and were tested again on arrival.

Some delegates tested positive in Geneva.

Mr Pedersen's office decided to resume the talks last Thursday afternoon after Swiss health authorities said it would safe to do so.

He said he believed the incident showed it was possible to move ahead with talks in a responsible manner.

"It is possible to handle even complicated cases as long as you follow strictly medical protocol and the advice you are receiving," he said.

"That is why we also hope that it will be possible to have the next round here in Geneva."

The Constitutional Committee was created in September last year and first convened a month later, but the pandemic and disagreements over the agenda hindered further meetings until this week.

The UN has been striving for more than nine years to nurture a political resolution to Syria's civil war, which has killed more than 380,000 people and displaced more than 11 million.