At the invitation of Special Envoy de Mistura, consultations were held in the United Nations Office at Geneva on 19 June with senior representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Turkey, on the way ahead for the implementation of the Sochi Final Statement and the establishment of a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned constitutional committee, facilitated by the UN, within the framework of the Geneva process and in accordance with Security Council resolution 2254 (2015).

During the meeting, constructive exchanges and substantive discussions took place on issues relevant to the establishment and functioning of a constitutional committee, and some common ground is beginning to emerge. The Special Envoy now anticipates inviting Iran, the Russian Federation and Turkey back to Geneva in the next few weeks, in order to widen the common ground.

The Special Envoy welcomes the three countries’ re-affirmation of their support of the United Nations’ role in facilitating the establishment and functioning of the constitutional committee.