Syrian Constitutional Committee in third day of talks

By Peter Kenny

GENEVA (AA) – The Syrian Constitutional Committee began the third day of talks Friday at the United Nations in Geneva with discussions on a constitutional roadmap.

The committee started the third day's sessions at the UN office in Geneva at around midday local time, with about one-third of the committee's 150 members expected to take the floor for the second round of speeches.

The committee is mandated, within the context of a UN-facilitated Geneva process, to prepare and draft constitutional reforms paving the way for a political settlement in Syria, to be held to popular approval.

On Thursday, around 50 members took the floor, and representatives of the regime, opposition, and civil society presented their vision of the constitution.

UN Special Representative in Syria Geir O. Pedersen is chairing the sessions, with two co-chairs, one representing the regime and one the opposition.

On Saturday, the last 50-person group is expected to make speeches, followed by a break on Sunday.

The group is to be whittled down to 45 people, with 15 representing the regime, civil society and opposition each.