Statement on behalf of the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura

As indicated in his briefing to the Security Council on 26 October 2018, Special Envoy de Mistura has been continuing intensive consultations on the early establishment of a constitutional committee.

The Special Envoy was present at a Summit meeting on 27 October 2018 in Istanbul hosted by the President of Turkey and including the Presidents of France and the Russian Federation and the Chancellor of Germany. The Special Envoy took particular note of the clear call at the highest level from these four important countries “for establishing and early convening, considering the circumstances, by the end of the year of the Constitutional Committee in Geneva”.

Today, the Special Envoy hosted in London a consultation within the context of the Geneva process with senior officials of the Small Group comprising Egypt, France, Germany, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and the United States. It was a useful interaction based on the seriousness and urgency of moving ahead with the constitutional committee.

The Special Envoy also met in London with Mr Nasr Hariri, the General Coordinator of the Syrian Negotiation Commission.

The Special Envoy looks forward to hosting within the context of the Geneva process consultations shortly with senior officials of the Astana guarantors and Sochi co-conveners, Iran, the Russian Federation and Turkey.

Geneva, 29 October 2018