Syrian conflict: Washington and Moscow drafting new constitution
Due to be published by August. The two super powers are pressing on Damascus and the opposition for "direct talks" and a strengthening of "political transition". The goal is the formation of a "transitional government". Government forces advance on Palmyra.
Damascus (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The United States and Russia have reached an agreement for the preparation of the draft of a new constitution for Syria, to be published by the end of August. This was announced by the US Secretary of State John Kerry, following a four hour meeting at the Kremlin with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two super powers also agree to exercise pressure on the Syrian government and the opposition front, so as to give a new impetus to dialogue on the political transition in the country.
Yesterday the second round of "indirect" talks between the parties ended in Geneva, Switzerland, under the auspices of the United Nations. After the meetings the special UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said he had found common ground between the two sides. The meetings are expected to resume next month, and have potentially more effective results.
De Mistura said that the meetings concluded "without variations, without drama, without delegitimizations” and with a 12 point document "that has not been rejected by the parties and that can be agreed on" in principle. This means, he concludes, that in the next meetings scheduled to be held from April 9 the principles will be put aside and "the political process discussed".
Returning to the Moscow meetings, 10 days before the start of the withdrawal of Russian troops from the Syrian territory, the United States and Russia have agreed on "a program" for a framework of "political transition" and a "draft constitution" to be "achieved by August."
Secretary of State Kerry declined to specify if the future of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been under discussion with Putin. However, both agree in thinking that Assad "should do the right thing" to engage in peace talks.
Washington and Moscow also put pressure on both sides - government and opposition - to engage in "direct talks" for the formation of a "transitional government" structure.
Meanwhile, on the military front, yesterday it was reported that government forces have made their entry into the ancient city of Palmyra, which last year fell into the hands of the Islamic State (IS) who executed, at the time, the director of antiquities . The jihadists have also caused serious damage to some temples and relics, filming and posting their brutality online, provoking outrage in the international community.
The war in Syria flared up in March 2011 as a popular protest against President Bashar al-Assad and turned into widespread conflict with extremist tendencies and Islamic Jihad, so far claiming over 270 thousand lives. It sparked one of the most serious humanitarian crisis in history, forcing 4.6 million Syrians to seek shelter abroad, especially in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt. Hundreds of thousands have tried to reach Europe, at times at the cost of their lives crossing the Mediterranean.. The total number of displaced persons (internal and migrants) exceeds 10 million.
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31/03/2017 10:25
