UN special envoy urges Syria's participation in constitutional talks

Geir Pedersen, the United Nations special envoy for Syria, urged Damascus on Sunday to join a new round of talks in Geneva at the end of April regarding the revision of the country's constitution, more than 13 years after the onset of the conflict.

The war in Syria, which began in 2011 with the crackdown on pro-democracy protests, has resulted in over 507,000 deaths and displaced more than seven million people within the country, plunging it into a deep economic and humanitarian crisis.

"The situation in Syria is extremely difficult today, and I believe all indicators are pointing in the wrong direction regarding security, the economy, and the political process," Pedersen stated to the press after meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Fayçal Meqdad in Damascus.

"We should continue to convene in Geneva and advance the work of the Constitutional Committee in order to give hope to the Syrian people," added the UN envoy, who serves as a mediator in discussions between government representatives, opposition groups, and civil society.

Established in Geneva in 2019, the Constitutional Committee aims to rewrite the constitution, potentially paving the way for a broader political process. However, in recent years, negotiations have been largely overshadowed by parallel discussions involving Turkey, which supports rebels in Syria, and Russia and Iran, allies of Damascus.

Talks in Geneva were suspended in 2022 after Moscow contested holding the meeting in Switzerland, questioning its neutrality after it imposed sanctions on Russia due to the war in Ukraine.

Last month, Pedersen extended invitations for a meeting in Geneva at the end of April, warning that "an indefinite pause can only harm the credibility and work" of the Constitutional Committee. On Sunday, the diplomat said he reiterated this invitation during his meeting with Meqdad.