Syrian opposition discusses electoral process with UN

By Fatih Erel

GENEVA

The unified Syrian opposition delegation in the peace talks in Geneva on Wednesday discussed the details about a potential electoral process in Syria with the UN envoy on Syria.

UN envoy on Syria Staffan de Mistura on Wednesday met separately with delegations of the regime and the unified opposition at the ongoing Syria peace talks in Geneva.

The eighth round of formal intra-Syrian peace talks in Geneva will conclude on Thursday.

After Wednesday's meeting, opposition spokesman Yahya Aridi told reporters: "Today’s session was probably more serious and more fruitful than yesterday’s."

"We went into all sorts of details about the electoral process, with charts, explaining the phases that were discussed within the framework of a political transition which is going to be the subject of our last session in this round tomorrow," Aridi added.

The unified Syrian regime delegation in peace talks in Geneva on Tuesday insisted on having direct talks with the regime delegation to end the crisis in the country.

Last month, de Mistura proposed direct talks between the sides with no preconditions. The unified opposition accepted the offer but the regime delegation refused.

According to the Syrian opposition, the regime delegation refuses to have direct talks with the opposition delegation and stands apart from discussions on political process.

The UN-backed Syrian peace talks had restarted in Geneva last week without the regime delegation until it joined the talks five days late on Monday without providing a reason.

The latest round of talks began on Nov. 28 with meetings between de Mistura and the opposition. The regime delegates conferred with de Mistura a day later.

This eighth round of peace talks will continue to Dec. 14.

The negotiations’ “four baskets” -- a new constitution, governance, elections and combating terrorism -- have been discussed, as well as issues such as detainees, abductees, missing persons and humanitarian access.