Syrian government, opposition to start drafting constitution

A long-awaited agreement was reached in the UN-mandated talks between the two sides in Switzerland.

Beirut, Lebanon – The Syrian government and opposition groups have agreed to start drafting new constitutional provisions during renewed United Nations-mandated negotiations in Geneva this week.

“The two co-chairs now agree that we will not only prepare for constitutional reform, but we will prepare and start drafting the constitutional reform,” UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen said at a brief news conference on Sunday.

The drafting committee is comprised of 45 members from the Syrian government, opposition, and civil society. They have not met since last January.