UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura will kick off on Monday a tough two-week process to bridge the gap between the three “guarantor” states of the Astana process - Russia, Turkey and Iran - and the US-led group of six which also compromises France, Britain, Germany, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.
The envoy hopes that setting up a constitution-drafting commission would contribute in finding a “common ground” between both camps.
A delegation representing the Syrian government and another one from the opposition are not invited to attend the UN-sponsored talks. However, contacts would be held with both parties on the process of forming the commission and facilitating its mission.
The talks in Geneva will kick off on Monday following the arrival of top representatives from the three guarantor states to discuss a schedule placed by de Mistura’s team.
The UN envoy has also scheduled talks for June 25 with envoys from Britain, France, Germany, Jordan, the United States and Saudi Arabia.
Asharq Al-Awsat learned that de Mistura and his deputy, Ambassador Ramzi Ezzeddine Ramziheld, had made extensive visits to regional and European states, in addition to trips to Washington and Russia, before settling on a decision to hold the negotiations starting Monday.
The main obstacle to de Mistura’s mission was Washington’s refusal to sit on the same table with the “guarantor” states, which include Iran.
However, talks held between German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin were decisive in arranging for a meeting between both sides on condition that the talks be held in Geneva.
Putin also played a role in convincing Bashar Assad to send to de Mistrua a list of 50 names, from which candidates will be selected to join the constitutional commission to set a framework for political reform in Syria.
A few days ago, the UN envoy expressed confidence that “progress is possible” in the talks aimed at finding a political solution to Syria’s war.
