Russia Backs Damascus in Holding Presidential Polls Under Current Constitution

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during his press conference in Damascus on Monday. EPA
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during his press conference in Damascus on Monday. EPA
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Russia Backs Damascus in Holding Presidential Polls Under Current Constitution

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during his press conference in Damascus on Monday. EPA
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during his press conference in Damascus on Monday. EPA

Damascus has sent its clearest message yet that the amendment of the constitution through UN-led talks in Geneva will not take place before the presidential elections in mid-2021, which implies the polls will be organized based on the constitution of 2012.

Moscow indirectly approved Syria’s proposal on Monday after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said following his meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus that there was “no timetable” for the amendment and that “the presidential elections were a Syrian sovereign affair.”

The committee tasked with amending Syria's constitution met in Geneva under UN envoy Geir Pedersen two weeks ago. It was the third meeting of delegates from Assad's government, the opposition and civil society.

During the talks, the government delegation held onto its rejection to any agreements previously struck between the government and the opposition on the procedural rules of the committee, stressing that any new deal among the delegates would be put to a referendum.

The delegation’s stance was seen as a clear rejection to making any constitutional amendments before the presidential elections.

A coalition of parties led by Baath won 183 seats in the 250-member parliament in the elections held in July, which means that the decision on candidacies for the presidential polls lies with the ruling party.

The government delegation’s stance in Geneva is a sign that it wants the constitutional amendment to be postponed until after Assad wins a new seven-year term in 2021, implying that reforms would be implemented in the parliamentary elections of 2024.

Pedersen has visited Moscow in hopes that Damascus would be advised to show more “flexibility” during the Geneva talks. Yet a press conference held by Lavrov and his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Muallem in Damascus on Monday was a clear sign of response to Pedersen’s demands.

“The constitution has nothing to do with the presidential elections,” said Muallem in response to a question, stressing that the polls would be held on time.

On speeding up the work of the constitutional committee, the Syrian answer was bluntly clear that “there’s no timetable” for amending the constitution, which should meet the expectations of the Syrian people.



Palestinian Authority at Risk of Collapse, Norway Says

Foreign Minister of Norway Espen Barth Eide attends the annual Kultaranta Talks -debate session on foreign and security policy at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland June 13, 2024. (Lehtikuva/Markku Ulander via Reuters)
Foreign Minister of Norway Espen Barth Eide attends the annual Kultaranta Talks -debate session on foreign and security policy at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland June 13, 2024. (Lehtikuva/Markku Ulander via Reuters)
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Palestinian Authority at Risk of Collapse, Norway Says

Foreign Minister of Norway Espen Barth Eide attends the annual Kultaranta Talks -debate session on foreign and security policy at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland June 13, 2024. (Lehtikuva/Markku Ulander via Reuters)
Foreign Minister of Norway Espen Barth Eide attends the annual Kultaranta Talks -debate session on foreign and security policy at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland June 13, 2024. (Lehtikuva/Markku Ulander via Reuters)

The Palestinian Authority could collapse in the coming months, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said on Monday, citing a lack of funding, continuing violence and the fact that half a million Palestinians are not allowed to work in Israel.

"The situation is extremely dire. The Palestinian Authority, with whom we work closely, are warning us that they might be collapsing this summer," Barth Eide told Reuters.

"If it collapses, you could end up having another Gaza, which would be terrible for everybody, including the people of Israel," he added.

Norway chairs the international donor group to the Palestinians and is a backer of the PA.