Joint Statement by Iran, Russia and Turkey on the Consultations Held on the Margins of the Fifth Meeting of the Constitutional Committee Geneva, January 28, 2021

Also available in the following languages: German, Russian, Spanish

The Islamic Republic of Iran, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Turkey as guarantors of the Astana format held on the margins of the regular session of the Constitutional Committee`s Drafting Commission convened between January 25-29 2021 in Geneva the trilateral meeting, consultations with the Syrian delegates and the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria Mr.Geir O. Pedersen as a result of which they have agreed on the following regarding the Constitutional Committee process:

1. Reaffirmed their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic and emphasized that these principles should be respected by all sides.

2. Welcomed the convening of the fifth meeting of the Constitutional Committee`s Drafting Commission between 25-29 January, 2021 in Geneva and reaffirmed the readiness to support the Committee`s work through continuous interaction with the Syrian delegates and the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen, as facilitator, in order to ensure its sustainable and effective functioning.

3. Emphasized the important role of the Constitutional Committee in Geneva, created as a result of the decisive contribution of the Astana guarantors and in furtherance of the decisions of the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi, in advancing the Syrian-led and Syrian-owned, UN-facilitated political process in line with the UN Security Council resolution 2254.

4. Expressed their view that the work of the Constitutional Committee should be governed by a sense of compromise and constructive engagement without foreign interference and externally imposed timelines aimed at reaching general agreement of its members that would enable the outcome to receive the widest possible support by the Syrian people.

5. Reaffirmed the intention to continue their consultations on the above mentioned issues during the next International Meeting on Syria in the Astana format (IMSA-15) in Sochi on February 16-17, 2021.