Bashar al-Assad Discusses Formation of Constitutional Committee

Damascus: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has discussed the formation of the constitutional committee with the visiting Russian President’s Special Envoy on Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev. Lavrentiev’s visit came days after Russia, Turkey, Germany, and France held a summit in Turkey’s Istanbul to discuss the formation of the committee. The Russian envoy also discussed with Assad efforts exerted by Moscow with regional and international parties to remove the obstacles to progress on finding a political solution for Syria.

According to the report, both sides agreed to continue joint work to remove all the obstacles facing the formation of the constitutional committee. Russian President Vladimir Putin said he hopes that by the end of 2018, Syria’s constitutional committee will start functioning. The constitutional committee is expected to include 150 members, equally divided into three groups, one chosen by the government, the second by the opposition and the third by UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura. (IANS)

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