Syrian opposition rejects constitution proposed by Russia

Representatives of Turkey, Russia, Iran and UN attend a meeting where they will discuss the implementation of the Syrian ceasefire agreement, in Astana, Kazakhstan on February 6, 2017 [Aliia Raimbekova/Anadolu]

A delegation of Syrian opposition groups has rejected a draft constitution proposed by Russia during meetings with Russian and Turkish sides which ended on Saturday.

During the meetings, held in the Turkish capital Ankara, the opposition groups requested Russia standby its commitments that the regime and allied militias respect a ceasefire agreement before going to the Geneva negotiations due to be held later this month.

The opposition delegation explained that it would not participate in the Geneva negotiations unless the ceasefire on the ground becomes effective.

Read: Syrian opposition rejects UN envoy’s proposal for peace talks

A senior Turkish source said on Friday that Turkey and the armed opposition delegation refused to discuss the constitution during a meeting held at the Turkish foreign ministry headquarters in Ankara.

Russia distributed during the Astana negotiations last month, a draft constitution for Syria.

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