On Tuesday, a delegation from the opposition’s “Negotiation Committee”, led by Badr Jamous, met with the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, at the UN headquarters in New York. The discussions revolved around the Syrian file and the ongoing political process.
The Committee highlighted on its Facebook page that its chairman emphasized the resolution of the Syrian crisis in accordance with UN Resolution 2254. He urged measures to be taken to end the regime’s procrastination concerning a political solution.
UN Resolution 2254 was issued in 2015. It calls on all parties to cease attacks on civilians, emphasizes the necessity for dialogue between warring factions, and mandates the conduct of free and fair elections under UN supervision, all aiming at a political transition.
Jamous also called for addressing the issue of detainees and those forcibly disappeared in regime prisons. He championed legal and humanitarian efforts to secure their release.
During the meeting with Guterres, the Committee’s delegation discussed the political process in the Constitutional Committee. They highlighted the importance of the voluntary and safe return of refugees to their homeland and the need for distributing aid to those in need without the regime manipulating such aids for political purposes.
The Committee reaffirmed its stance on the convening of the Constitutional Committee, considering its natural place to be in Geneva.
Past rounds of meetings in the Constitutional Committee have not achieved any progress in drafting a new constitution for Syria due to differing stances between the regime and opposition factions.
The Syrian civil conflict, which began in 2011, has seen various phases of negotiations and international interventions. The United Nations, aiming to find a peaceful resolution, has been at the forefront of many of these discussions.
UN Resolution 2254 is among the key resolutions addressing the conflict, urging for a ceasefire, political negotiations, and ultimately a transition towards peace.