Syria govt, opposition groups could agree on constitutional committee in coming months – Russia

The Syrian government, armed opposition groups, and both sides’ backers could agree on the makeup of a constitutional committee in the coming months, according to Russian negotiator Aleksandr Lavrentyev. Forming a constitutional committee is key to political reforms and new elections meant to unify Syria and end an eight-year war. The sides have so far failed to agree on the constitutional committee’s makeup. A fresh round of talks in the Kazakh capital, Nur-Sultan, produced no apparent breakthrough on Friday. But Lavrentyev said it was close, Reuters reports. Diplomats from Russia, Iran, and Turkey will meet with UN negotiators in Geneva to discuss the issue again, he said, adding that it was “at the finish line.”