The Syrian Constitutional Committee, which began its first session in nine months in Geneva on Monday as part of efforts to find a political solution to end Syria's war, was swiftly put 'on hold' after three members tested positive for COVID-19, the United Nations said.
FILE PHOTO: U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen gestures during a news conference ahead of a meeting of the Syrian Constitutional Committee at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland August 21, 2020. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo
Hours earlier, U.S. Syria envoy James Jeffrey told reporters that the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had agreed “under some Russian pressure” to take part in the week-long talks. The office of U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen did not identify which three of the 45 members of the so-called small body of the Constitutional Committee were infected. One third is nominated by the Syrian government, one third by the opposition, and one third by civil society.
“Following a constructive first meeting, the Third Session of the Constitutional Committee is currently on hold. The Office of the Special Envoy will make a further announcement in due course,” it said, adding that Swiss authorities had been informed and contact-tracing was under way.
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