Vershinin and Pedersen discuss ways to resume the work of the Syrian Constitutional Committee

ARK News… Sergei Vershinin, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and Geir Pedersen, the UN Special Envoy to Syria, discussed ways to resume the work of the Syrian Constitutional Committee.

Vershinin and Pedersen exchanged views on the current situation in Syria and stressed the need for “coordinated multilateral efforts in order to reduce tensions in the region,” according to a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The statement stated that "the prospects for resuming the work of the Constitutional Committee were discussed within the framework of strengthening the political process led by the Syrians themselves with the assistance of the United Nations, without external interference and on the basis of respect for the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution No. 2254."

The two sides also touched on the issues of "social and economic normalization in Syria, the impact of Western sanctions and the need to provide humanitarian aid to all Syrians in need, without discrimination, politicization or preconditions."

During a session dedicated to the situation in Syria within the framework of the Doha Forum in its 21st session, the UN envoy had said that “everyone must stop and review what is related to the crisis, and if we do not guarantee calm and begin working according to the step-by-step principle, we will risk a major disaster in Syria.”

Adding that there is a need to adopt a new approach on the part of the opposition and the Syrian regime “to resolve the conflict, which at present appears somewhat frozen.”

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