1st LD Writethru: UN envoy upbeat about outcome of Syria talks in Sochi

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

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

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

The constitutional committee, which will consist of 45-50 members, will become a reality in Geneva, not elsewhere, 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," said the UN envoy.

De Mistura said he would conduct wide consultations and come up with 45-50 names based on criteria to be announced soon by himself.

He said the composition of the committee will be balanced and will include people who did not attend the Sochi talks.

The constitutional committee, if implemented, will be a concrete contribution to the Geneva process, said the UN envoy.

He noted that the Syrian government and the opposition had not previously engaged in talks for a new constitution. With the agreement in Sochi on the constitutional committee, "we have reached that point."

He also noted that countries of influence on the Syrian crisis are also determined to push for engagement of the Syrian parties. "We are going from theory to practice."

De Mistura refused to set up a timetable for the formation of the constitutional committee, saying that he would begin his work as soon as possible. He indicated that the constitutional committee might ultimately lead to UN-led and UN-supervised elections, both presidential and parliamentary.

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

The Sochi talks were boycotted by Syria's key opposition and rebel groups. Western powers also shied away. Enditem