DAMASCUS (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 14th April, 2019) UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen is in Damascus on a two-day visit for what he hopes will be "fruitful" consultations regarding the Syrian settlement process.
"[It is] very good to be back here in Damascus again. I am looking forward to attending, I hope [what will be], a new round of fruitful discussions tomorrow [April 14]. And hopefully we can talk again after that," Pedersen told reporters upon arrival in the Syrian capital on Saturday.
Pedersen will reportedly meet with Syrian government officials and ministers, including Foreign Minister Walid Muallem.
During the consultations, the special envoy is expected to address the establishment of the Syrian constitutional committee as a part of the peace process in the country.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry said later on Sunday Foreign Minister Walid Muallem had held talks with Pedersen, specifying that the sides discussed the efforts made to achieve progress in the settlement of the Syrian crisis.
"Muallem and Pedersen also discussed consultations concerning the political track, including the constitutional committee," the ministry said in a statement.
The agreement to form a constitutional committee was reached during the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in the Russian city of Sochi back in January 2018. The panel is expected to be made up of representatives of the government and opposition, Syrian experts, members of civil society, independents, tribal leaders, and women, according to the statement from the congress.
