UN envoy holds consultations in latest effort to find political solution to Syria

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The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, on Monday held consultations with senior representatives of France, Germany, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Britain and the United States on a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned UN-facilitated Geneva political process.

In a media statement issued on Monday, the UN envoy said that during the meeting, updates and exchanges were shared on the situation on the ground.

"Grave concerns were expressed at the ongoing military escalation in southwestern Syria and calls made for an immediate end to violence," the statement said.

It noted that substantive exchanges also took place on the prospects for progress on the constitutional track, and on continuing diplomatic efforts to promote common ground among international players in support of a political settlement in Syria.

During the meeting, the UN envoy welcomed the six countries' re-affirmation of their support of the United Nations' role in facilitating the political process, the statement said, adding that more such meetings were expected to facilitate the establishment of a constitutional committee and address the wider dimensions of the political process.

De Mistura said earlier this month that he wanted to restart work on the constitutional process for Syria that has been torn apart by war for seven years.

Earlier last week, he had met with Russian, Turkish and Iranian officials on this issue.

The latest UN-led peace talks on Syrian ended in Geneva in December of 2017, which de Mistura described as a "missed golden opportunity."

(Cover: UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura attends a joint press conference with Russian foreign minister following their talks in Moscow, March 29, 2018. /VCG Photo )

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency