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Syria constitution drafting committee concludes first round of talks

8 Nov 2019; MEMO: The mini-constitution drafting committee of Syria yesterday concluded the first round of talks at the UN headquarters in Geneva.

The delegations representing the Syrian opposition, the regime and civil society organisations left without speaking to the media, however they are expected to make a statement and announce the results of the talks today.

UN official expresses grave concern over civilian protection in NE Syria

GENEVA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The safety and protection of hundreds of thousands of civilians affected by the recent escalation of hostilities in northeast Syria remain a grave concern, a senior UN official said here Thursday.

Najat Rochdi, Senior Humanitarian Adviser to the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, said in a statement issued here Thursday evening that while the intensity and scope of violence have declined in recent weeks, localized heavy fighting in that area continues.

US-China trade war ‘hurting both countries’: UN

GENEVA, Nov 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The ongoing trade war between the United States and China is harming both economies, the UN said, with a sharp drop in exports and higher prices for consumers.

In a fresh report, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) examined the repercussions of bruising tariff hikes imposed by the world’s two largest economies, and found that both were left considerably worse off.

That in turn risks taking a toll on the entire global economy, the agency cautioned.

45 members of Syrian Constitutional Committee meet

5 Nov 2019; MEMO: The first meeting on Monday of a 45-member body, tasked with drafting a new constitution for Syria, was “turned out in a positive way”, the co-chair of the opposition group said.

“I could say it turned out in a positive way because we have decided the method of the agenda which will start following tomorrow,” said Hadi Albahra, the co-chair for the opposition group, when questioned by Anadolu Agency after a two-hour meeting.

Syria regime and opposition begin talks in Geneva

31 Oct 2019; MEMO: Hosted by the UN, representatives of the Syrian regime and Syrian opposition sat together in Geneva yesterday to discuss the country’s future constitution.

According to UN News, the UN Special Envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen addressed the participants: “The future constitution belongs to Syrians, to the Syrian people and them alone.”

Syrian opposition hopes to achieve political settlement by 2020

GENEVA, October 30. /TASS/: Syria’s opposition members in the Constitutional Committee hope that political settlement in the country will be achieved by 2020, co-chair from the opposition Hadi al-Bahra told the committee’s first meeting on Wednesday.

"I hope that the 75th anniversary of the United Nations next year will be an opportunity to celebrate another achievement by the universal organization, namely the success of efforts under the auspices of a special envoy for political process, who will bring peace and justice to all Syrians," al-Bahra said.

Syria constitutional panel launched amid scepticism

GENEVA (Reuters) - Syria’s Constitutional Committee, composed of government and opposition members, met for the first time on Wednesday in the first step on what the United Nations says will be a long road to political reconciliation.

But experts seriously question whether the Assad government would be willing to give away much at the negotiating table after consolidating its military control on the ground.

FMs of Turkey, Russia, Iran welcome upcoming launch of Syrian Constitutional Committee

GENEVA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Foreign ministers of Turkey, Iran and Russia on Tuesday evening welcomed the upcoming launch of the Syrian Constitutional Committee scheduled for Wednesday.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told a joint press conference that the launch of the Committee showed that there is no military solution for the Syrian conflict.

The three foreign ministers also confirmed their full adherence to the territorial integrity of Syria and expressed their stance to dismantle terrorism in all its manifestations in the country, he said.

Bern calls for further de-escalation in Syria in light of Russia-Turkey memorandum

GENEVA, October 25. /TASS/: Switzerland has taken note of the Russian-Turkish memorandum on joint actions to settle the situation in northeastern Syria and calls on all concerned parties to take efforts towards further de-escalation, Swiss Foreign Ministry Spokesman Pierre-Alain Eltschinger told TASS on Friday.

U.N. calls for release of ex-aide to Egypt's Mursi, son jailed since 2013

GENEVA (Reuters) - An Egyptian Islamist father and his son have been detained unlawfully since 2013 part of the political persecution of ex-aides to deposed president Mohamed Mursi, and should be freed immediately and compensated, U.N. human rights experts said.

The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention posted its findings last week after examining the cases of former Mursi adviser Essam al-Haddad and his son Gihad. The panel said that Egyptian authorities had not responded to its inquiries.

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