De Mistura’s Paper Suggests 'Non-Sectarian State', 'Local Administrations'

UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura/UN
UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura/UN
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De Mistura’s Paper Suggests 'Non-Sectarian State', 'Local Administrations'

UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura/UN
UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura/UN

UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura pushed on Thursday both the regime and opposition delegations to enter into the core subject of negotiations, and handed them a 12-item paper including his concept for the future of Syria.

A copy of the envoy’s paper, which was received by Asharq Al-Awsat, stipulates that Syria is a “non-sectarian state” under UNSC Resolution 2254, and asserts the need that “local administrative representatives” be present in the country next to the work of the “National Army,” and the “Security Apparatus in accordance with the constitution.”

The paper also confirms the respect of the “high value of the Syrian community, the national identity and the history of diversity and ethics brought by all religions, civilizations and cultures in Syria.”

The High Negotiations Committee, which also includes the Cairo and Moscow platforms, later presented to de Mistura a response to his paper, including 12 items.

It was remarkable that the HNC removed from the term “Syrian Arab Republic,” the world “Arab” and replace it by only “Syria,” in addition to approving the decentralization principle, the rights of Kurds and other entities.

The opposition’s paper also suggested introducing reforms to the “national army” body and to restructure the security apparatus.

De Mistura plans to issue a joint paper between the two delegations at the end of the eighth Geneva intra-Syrian talks in mid-December, including the principles of a political solution to Syria that emanate from the spirit of Resolution 2254 and based on the previous drafts of negotiations, that started in the spring of 2016.

Diplomatic sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that discussions on Thursday tackled the name of the state: the UN paper suggested that it remains the “Syrian Arab Republic,” while the opposition delegation said it should become “Syria.”

The discussions also revealed a dispute between the two choices of “local administrations” or “decentralization,” and another deep argument concerning the role of the Army and the need to reform it, to restructure the body of the security apparatus and to fight terrorism.

On Thursday, de Mistura held indirect but simultaneous talks with the two delegations in two separate rooms, after the government delegation headed by Bashar al-Jaafari refused to engage in direct talks with the opposition.

“There has been now a moment of truth; we need to find a political solution,” de Mistura said, adding that there should be no preconditions heading into the current round of discussions aimed at resolving the over six-year-long Syrian conflict that has resulted in immense human suffering.



Tunisia Activists Launch Gaza-bound Convoy in 'Symbolic Act'

 Tunisians gather at a meeting point in Tunis on June 9, 2025, ahead of the departure of a land convoy named “Steadfastness” to break the siege on Gaza. (AFP)
Tunisians gather at a meeting point in Tunis on June 9, 2025, ahead of the departure of a land convoy named “Steadfastness” to break the siege on Gaza. (AFP)
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Tunisia Activists Launch Gaza-bound Convoy in 'Symbolic Act'

 Tunisians gather at a meeting point in Tunis on June 9, 2025, ahead of the departure of a land convoy named “Steadfastness” to break the siege on Gaza. (AFP)
Tunisians gather at a meeting point in Tunis on June 9, 2025, ahead of the departure of a land convoy named “Steadfastness” to break the siege on Gaza. (AFP)

Hundreds of people, mainly Tunisians, launched on Monday a land convoy bound for Gaza, seeking to "break the siege" on the Palestinian territory, activists said.

Organizers said the nine-bus convoy was not bringing aid into Gaza, but rather aimed at carrying out a "symbolic act" by breaking the blockade on the territory described by the United Nations as "the hungriest place on Earth".

The "Soumoud" convoy, meaning "steadfastness" in Arabic, includes doctors and aims to arrive in Rafah, in southern Gaza, "by the end of the week", activist Jawaher Channa told AFP.

It is set to pass through Libya and Egypt, although Cairo has yet to provide passage permits, she added.

"We are about a thousand people, and we will have more join us along the way," said Channa, spokeswoman of the Tunisian Coordination of Joint Action for Palestine, the group organizing the caravan.

"Egypt has not yet given us permission to cross its borders, but we will see what happens when we get there," she said.

Channa said the convoy was not set to face issues crossing Libya, "whose people have historically supported the Palestinian cause", despite recent deadly clashes in the country that remains divided between two governments.

Algerian, Mauritanian, Moroccan and Libyan activists were also among the group, which is set to travel along the Tunisian and Libyan coasts, before continuing on to Rafah through Egypt.

After 21 months of war, Israel is facing mounting international pressure to allow more aid into Gaza to alleviate widespread shortages of food and basic supplies.

On June 1, the Madleen aid boat, boarded by activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and European parliament member Franco-Palestinian Rima Hassan, set sail for Gaza from Italy.

But on Monday morning Israel intercepted it, preventing it from reaching the Palestinian territory.

The UN has warned that the Palestinian territory's entire population is at risk of famine.