MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 14th September, 2018) The so-called Small Group on Syria, comprising Egypt, France, Germany, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and the United States, will meet in Geneva on Friday at the invitation of UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura.
The member states of the are expected to be represented by senior diplomats.
During the meeting, the parties are expected to focus on the discussion of the future of the political process in Syria, in particular, the UN efforts to facilitate the establishment of a constitutional committee in the country, tasked with amending the country's constitution. The situation in Syria's Idlib is also likely to be touched upon during the meeting.
The meeting will take place just days after the talks of the Syrian ceasefire guarantor states � Iran, Russia and Turkey � with de Mistura in Geneva, during which the parties had given consideration to such issues as the situation in Syria's Idlib and the establishment of constitutional commission.
Ahead of the Small Group's meeting in Geneva, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated Moscow's readiness to cooperate with the negotiating partners aiming to achieve mutual understanding. He stressed, at the same time, that the group solution should be found based on respect for Syria's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The last meeting of the representatives of the so-called Small Group with de Mistura was held on June 25. The meeting's participants have discussed the military escalation in southwestern Syria as well as the progress with the establishment of the Syrian constitutional commission.
Syria has been devastated by years of violent civil war that has prompted millions to flee hostilities to other locations in Syria or abroad.
The international community has taken efforts to settle the conflict by conducting political settlement talks in Geneva and reconciliation negotiations through the Astana format.
