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At or
After Syria
Talks, de
Mistura on the
10th Day
Releases His
Paper, Here
By Matthew
Russell Lee
WASHINGTON,
March 16 --
Before UN
envoy for
Syria Staffan
de Mistura
took four
questions in
Geneva on
March 14, he
announced that
for the next
ten days, he would
grant no
exclusive
interviews.
Background
below.
On the
tenth day,
March 24, de
Mistura held a
press
conference
during which
he repeatedly
said that his
"paper" would
be released
"right now."
Here, just
released, is
the paper:
"Special
Envoy’s Paper
on Points of
Commonalities
Explanatory
Note
This is an
Explanatory
Note to the
Special
Envoy’s Paper
on Points of
Commonalities.
It sets out
what the
official
purpose is of
the paper.
During the
course of
talks the
Special Envoy
noted that
certain
commonalities
existed
between the
two sides in
relation to
their
respective
visions of
what a future
of Syrian
state might
look like. He
instructed his
staff to try
to capture
points of
convergence in
order to help
him structure
the next round
of talks which
shall also
focus on
political
transition.
The paper is a
useful guide
as to the
commonalties
that exists
between the
two
negotiating
parties. It is
not an agreed
paper of the
two
negotiating
parties. It
does not
constitute in
any way a
framework
document or a
negotiating
text and shall
not be put
before the UN
Security
Council or the
ISSG unless
specifically
authorised by
both sides.
Instead, the
Special Envoy
has invited
each of the
two
negotiating
parties to
take away the
paper to
examine
whether it
accurately
captures
points of
convergence if
not consensus.
He has also
invited each
of the two
negotiating
parties to
identify
important
points of
divergence on
essential
principles.
For the
avoidance of
doubt the two
negotiating
parties
continue to
maintain their
respective
negotiating
positions as
regards any
political
transitional
process and
what a future
Syrian state
might look
like.
Essential
Principles of
a Political
Solution in
Syria
The
participants
in the
intra-Syrian
talks agree
with the
Special Envoy
that the full
implementation
of UNSC
Resolution
2254, the ISSG
statements and
the Geneva
Communique in
its entirety
are the basis
for a
political
transition
process and
beyond that
will end the
crisis in
Syria—a crisis
that has cost
countless
lives and
imposed
endless
suffering on
the people of
Syria. The
sides confirm
that a
political
settlement is
the only way
to peace.
Towards this
end the
parties
recognize the
following
essential
principles as
the foundation
for a future
Syrian state
that meets the
aspirations of
the Syrian
people:
1. Respect for
the
sovereignty,
independence,
unity and
territorial
integrity of
Syria. No part
of the
national
territory
shall be
ceded. As an
integral part
of the Arab
nation, Syria
is committed
to a peaceful
and active
role in the
international
community. As
a founding
member, Syria
is dedicated
to the UN
Charter and
its purposes
and
principles.
The people of
Syria remain
committed to
the
restoration of
the occupied
Golan Heights
by peaceful
means.
2. The
principles of
sovereign
equality and
non-intervention
shall apply,
in conformity
with the UN
Charter. The
Syrian people
alone shall
determine the
future of
their country
by democratic
means, through
the ballot
box, and have
the exclusive
right to
choose their
own political,
economic and
social system
without
external
pressure or
interference.
3. Syria shall
be a
democratic,
non-sectarian
state based on
citizenship
and political
pluralism, the
representation
of all
components of
Syrian
society, the
rule of law,
the
independence
of the
judiciary,
equal rights,
non-discrimination,
human rights
and
fundamental
freedoms,
transparency,
accountability
and the
principles of
national
reconciliation
and social
peace.
4. Syria
cherishes its
history of
diversity and
the
contributions
and values of
all religions,
traditions and
national
identities to
Syrian
society. Acts
of revenge
against
individuals or
groups shall
not be
tolerated.
There shall be
no
discrimination
against, and
full
protection of,
all national,
ethnic,
religious,
linguistic and
cultural
identities.
Members of all
communities,
men and women,
shall enjoy
equal
opportunities
in social,
economic,
cultural and
public life.
5. Women shall
enjoy equality
of rights and
representation
in all
institutions
and
decision-making
structures at
a level of at
least 30 per
cent during
the transition
and
thereafter.
6. As per
Security
Council
resolution
2254 (2015),
the political
transition in
Syria shall
include
mechanisms for
credible,
inclusive and
non-sectarian
governance, a
schedule and
process for
drafting a new
constitution
and free and
fair elections
pursuant to
the new
constitution,
administered
under
supervision by
the United
Nations, to
the
satisfaction
of the
governance and
to the highest
international
standards of
transparency
and
accountability,
with all
Syrians,
including
members of the
diaspora,
eligible to
participate.
7. Such
governance
shall ensure
an environment
of stability
and calm
during the
transition,
offering
safety and
equal chances
to political
actors to
establish
themselves and
campaign in
the
forthcoming
elections and
participate in
public life.
8. Continuity
and reform of
state
institutions
and public
services,
along with
measures to
protect the
public
infrastructure
and private
property,
shall ensure
stability in
accordance
with
international
standards,
principles of
good
governance and
human rights.
The governance
will take
effective
measures to
combat
corruption.
Citizens will
benefit from
effective
mechanisms of
protection in
the relations
with all
public
authorities,
ensuring full
compliance
with human
rights.
9. Syria
categorically
rejects
terrorism and
strongly
opposes
terrorist
organizations
and
individuals
identified by
the UN
Security
Council and
will engage in
a national
endeavour, in
international
partnership,
to defeat
terrorism and
to address the
causes of
terrorism.
Syria calls on
all states in
accordance
with the
relevant UNSC
resolutions,
to prevent
terrorist
groups from
being supplied
with weapons,
money,
training,
shelter,
intelligence
or safe havens
and to refrain
from inciting
acts of
terrorism.
10. Syrians
are committed
to rebuilding
a strong and
unified
national army,
also through
the
disarmament
and
integration of
members of
armed groups
supporting the
transition and
the new
constitution.
That
professional
army shall
protect the
borders and
population of
the State from
external
threats in
accordance
with the
principle of
the rule of
law. The state
and its
reformed
institutions
will exercise
the exclusive
right of
controlling
weapons of
war. There
shall be no
intervention
by foreign
fighters on
Syrian soil.
11. All
refugees and
internally
displaced
people wishing
it shall be
enabled to
return safely
to their homes
with national
and
international
support and in
line with
international
protection
standards.
Those
arbitrarily
detained shall
be released
and the fate
of the
disappeared,
kidnapped or
missing shall
be resolved.
12. There
shall be
reparations,
redress, care,
and
restitution of
rights and
property lost
for those who
have suffered
loss or injury
in consequence
of the
conflict. As
peace and
stability are
being
restored,
Syria shall
call for the
holding of a
major donor
conference to
gain funds for
compensation,
reconstruction
and
development of
the country,
and the
lifting of all
coercive
economic
measures and
other
unilateral
actions
affecting the
people of
Syria. Syria
looks forward
to
international
guarantees and
support for
the
implementation
of the
political
process in a
way that does
not infringe
upon the
sovereignty of
Syria"
Later on March
14, after de
Mistura
briefed the UN
Security
Council by
video,
Ambassador
Gaspar Martins
of Angola,
president of
the Council
for March,
emerged to say
that all
members found
Russia's
announcement
of starting to
withdraw most
of its forces
from Syria
positive.
Inner
City Press
asked Gaspar
Martins if the
(yet to be
agreed)
inclusion of
Kurdish groups
in Syria into
the talks was
discussed.
Yes, he said,
there is a
desire that
the talks get
more
inclusive.
But will
they,
particularly
after the
Ankara attack?
Now,
Kurdish
official Idris
Nassan says
Kurds will
declare self
determination
in northern
Syria. So it
seems those
who delayed
and demurred
on Kurdish
involvement in
the UN's
Geneva talks
have only
themselves to
blame.
On March
15, Inner City
Press put the
question to US
State
Department
spokesperson
John Kirby.
From the State
Department transcript:
Inner City
Press: what
does the U.S.
think of the
inclusion of
Kurdish groups
from – in
Syria in the
talks?
There’s more
and more –
many countries
talk – say
they should be
involved.
Obviously,
Turkey says
that they
shouldn’t be
involved;
there’s the
Ankara
attack.
Has your –
what’s the
thinking here?
MR
KIRBY:
I’ve addressed
this before
and our
position is
exactly the
same.
The
invitations to
the talks were
decided and
sent by the
UN, by Special
Envoy de
Mistura.
He sent
invitations
this time to
the same
groups that he
sent last
time.
Right now,
that does not
include
Kurdish groups
in the
proximity
talks.
That said, as
before, he
continues to
consult with a
wide range of
groups, to
include
Kurdish
groups.
And we believe
that we need
to respect his
decision-making
process going
forward and
how he wants
to conduct
these
talks.
We’re going to
continue to
support
that.
And again,
there are
consultations,
there are
discussions
going
on. We
recognize that
those
consultations
are important.
But
what about
Kurds
declaring self
determination
in northern
Syria? We hope
to have more
on this.
Here's some
background on
de Mistura's
M.O. in
Geneva, then
Inner City
Press'
question on
it: on March 1
the
"Association
des
Correspondants
Aupres des
Nations Unies
a Geneve"
(ACANU), in a
bit of
advocacy the
NY-based UNCA
does not
engage in,
protested de
Mistura making
announcements
about the
Syria talks in
exclusive
interviews,
and not to all
correspondents
at once.
Inner
City Press has
obtained the
ACANU letter,
which was
cc-ed to UN
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric (who
threw Inner
City Press out of
the UN Press
Briefing Room
on January 29
and out of the
entire
UN on February
19 and 22, petition
here) and
published
it here.
In New
York, Ban
Ki-moon and
his Under
Secretaries
General like
Herve Ladsous
dole out
information to
favored
correspondents;
Ban's
USG for Public
Information
Cristina
Gallach on
February 19
went so far as
to oust Inner
City Press
after speaking
with Giampaolo
Pioli's UNCA
but not Inner
City Press.
Will de
Mistura, as
now pledged,
be different?
On March 14,
Ban Ki-moon's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric told
Inner City
Press there is
no policy in
this regard. From the UN
transcript:
Inner City
Press: I saw
you [carbon
copied] on
this, so it
seems like a
fair question
to you.
I saw a letter
from the
ACANU, or the
Geneva press
association of
correspondents,
directed to
Mr… Mr. de
Mistura and
[carbon
copied] to
you,
protesting
that he
announced a
delay… initial
delay in the
Syria talks in
an exclusive
interview.
And I saw him
this morning
very early say
that he's not
going to do
any exclusive
interviews
between 14 and
24 March, sort
of as an
accommodation.
I guess I
wanted to
know, what is
the UN's
policy in
terms of both
the
Secretary-General
or a
news-maker
like de
Mistura
giving… ACANU
seemed to say
very clearly
this
information
should be
given to all
correspondents
at the same
time. Do
you agree with
that?
Spokesman:
No, Mr. de
Mistura is a
seasoned
diplomat.
He chooses to…
he deftly
handles the
media, and he
will do
whatever he
feels he needs
to do.
There is no
policy per se
on any of
these issues
that you
raised.
No
policy - like
on the
"lending out"
of the UN
Press Briefing
Room,
resulting in
differences of
opinion on the
right to cover
events there
which the UN,
Dujarric, can
use as a
pretext to
oust the
Press.
UN
Geneva
spokesman
Ahmad Fawzi on
March 14 gave
the first
question to
“our Turkish
colleague” --
who asked
about the
timing of
elections in
Syria. The
next picked
questioner
identified
himself “with
the Geneva
press corps;”
then Al
Jazeera Arabic
asked if there
is any
deadline for a
deal to be
reached.
To
this, de
Mistura said
this first
round would
run from March
14 to 24 --
during which
no exclusive
interviews, he
said -- then a
recess of a
week or ten
days. This
will be
folllowed by a
second round
of two weeks,
then another
recess, length
undefined.
Fawzi's
final question
went to ACANU,
representing
Geneva
correspondents
accredited by
the UN,
hopefully
(much) better
than the decaying
and corrupt UN
Correspondents
Association
the UN uses in
New York. This
question was
to say when
meetings begin
and end. And
then it was
over.
One couldn't
help wonder if
there were
anywhere near
this focus on
the slaughter
in Yemen - and
where is de
Mistura's
counterpart
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed?
On
Syria, will
the Ankara
attack impact
mounting
demands that
the Kurds be
given a role
in this round
of talks?
We'll have
more on this.
* * *
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