国际英语资讯:Astana, other peace processes fail due to Damascus: U.S. envoy

ANKARA, Dec. 8 -- Neither of the peace processes for Syria were successful because of refusal by Damascus, the U.S. Special Representative for Syria, James Jeffrey, said here on Friday.

He elaborated on U.S. call for the Astana process - the three-way negotiations between Turkey, Russia and Iran - to be brought to an end after a joint meeting with Turkish officials where efforts for political solution of Syria issue were also discussed.

"It's our strong belief that it is the regime (of Syria). It's not Astana or Sochi process, not Russians, not Iranians. It certainly isn't the Turks, they have taken very good position...But at the end of this period, we have to ask the question, what is next?" he added.

Washington had "no problem" with Astana and Sochi processes as they aimed "deconflicting the military situation in Syria," Jeffrey said.

His criticism was about tasking new appointed UN representative for Syria with a constitutional committee that was pledged to be formed till the end of December.

UN Special Envoy for Syria, Steffan De Mistura, is due to give his final report to the UN Security Council on Dec. 14 as Norwegian diplomat Geir Pedersen has been named to succeed him.

"Nobody has been successful. We expect the UN to explain why all of these efforts were failed. We think the answer is the total refusal of the regime of Damascus to move to the slightest degree to respond the urgent appeals of the entire international community," said Jeffrey.

Jeffrey was referring to a recent round of Astana talks last week which failed to form a Syria constitutional committee.

Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, criticized Jeffrey's statement, saying it was "wrongful" and "unfortunate."

"If the ceasefire in Syria is still preserved even due to violations, if today we can still talk about a political process, if we discuss about the constitutional committee, there are achieved thanks to Astana process and Sochi," Cavusoglu said on Dec. 5.

He noted that Turkey never allowed Astana and Sochi platforms to become an alternative to Geneva process.

The Astana process was launched by Russia, Iran and Turkey in the Kazakh capital Astana in January 2017 to bring all warring parties in the Syrian conflict to the table to find a political solution as a complementary part of the UN sponsored peace talks in Geneva.

The most significant outcome was the establishment of four de-escalation zones in Syria.

Idlib, the last stronghold of the opposition, is one of the "de-escalation zones" in Syria. The other three have all been violated.

The Russian-sponsored Sochi conference in January, 2018 brought the opposition groups, Syrian regime and guarantors of Astana process together.

A decision was taken to form a committee to make a Syrian constitution with the efforts of UN special envoy for Syria, but he was not able to realize the committee mainly by the objection of the Syrian government.

The constitutional committee is expected to include 150 members, equally divided into three groups, one chosen by the government, the second by the opposition and the third by UN special envoy for Syria.

The regime is objecting the third list that the UN is tasked with to include civil society representatives, religious and tribal leaders, experts and women in the committee.

Mistura on Friday said that he is seeking to help get an agreement with Syria on the final names that needed on the list for the constitutional committee.