UN envoy upbeat about outcome of Syria talks in Sochi

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The UN special envoy for the Syria crisis, Staffan de Mistura, was upbeat on Tuesday about the outcome of the just concluded intra-Syria talks in Sochi, Russia, hailing an agreement on the formation of a committee to be tasked to draft a new constitution for the war-torn country.

In the final declaration of the Sochi talks that were brokered by Russia, Iran and Turkey, the participants agreed on the formation of a constitutional committee composed of representatives of the Syrian government, the opposition and independents for the drafting of a constitution in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, de Mistura told reporters at UN Headquarters in New York via video conference.

He emphasized that the achievement at Sochi will be a contribution to the UN-led Geneva process for Syria.

The constitutional committee, which will consist of 45 to 50 members, will become a reality in Geneva, he stressed. "The UN-led Geneva process will agree on the proposals the special envoy will make on the mandate, terms of reference, powers, rules of procedure and selection criteria for the composition of the constitutional committee in Geneva."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent de Mistura to the two-day talks in the Black Sea resort of Sochi after the UN received Russia's pledge that the outcome of the Sochi talks would be brought to Geneva. Enditem