Syrian opposition call on UN to clarify party obstructing Constitutional Committee’s work
ISTANBUL, Turkey (North Press) – On Wednesday, president of the Syrian Negotiations Committee Anas al-Abdeh called on the UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen to clarify the party that obstructed the work of the Constitutional Committee in its fifth round, which ended days ago without making any progress.
In a statement posted on his Facebook account on Wednesday, al-Abdeh expressed his disapproval of what the Syrian government delegation did during the meetings of the Constitutional Committee, describing the matter as “unacceptable.”
“During my meeting with representatives of the European Union on Tuesday, I emphasized that the Syrian regime deals with the Constitutional Committee as political brainstorming sessions. This is unacceptable and this approach cannot be continued,” he said.
“The UN envoy should be clear about mentioning the obstructive party during his upcoming briefing of the UN Security Council,” he added.
“The implementation of UN Resolution 2254, starting with the transitional government, will not be achieved without forcing the regime to do so by increasing pressure on it and on its supporters,” al-Abdeh noted.
He called for “tightening economic sanctions that focus on all the pillars of the regime and its supporters, and also by real and effective standing with the issue of the Syrian people and their revolution.”
“The Syrian National Coalition (SNC) has not made up their minds towards the Constitutional Committee and is awaiting the results of the next Astana,” a source from the Syrian opposition who preferred not to be named told North Press.
“The SNC relies on the UN to put pressure on the regime, and this will never happen. Thus, this farce will continue until the position of the new US administration becomes clear,” the source added.
He pointed out that the issue of the withdrawal of the Syrian opposition delegation from the Constitutional Committee “is not in the hands of the National Coalition, but in the hands of the Negotiations Committee, which is controlled by platforms identical with the Russian approach.”
On January 29, following the conclusion of the fifth round of the Constitutional Committee in Geneva, Geir Pedersen officially announced the end of the negotiation process, describing it as “disappointing.”