Russian-backed Syria congress may happen next month, focus on constitution

MOSCOW – A Moscow-backed congress of all Syria's ethnic groups could take place in Russia as soon as next month and launch work on drawing up a new constitution, the RIA news agency reported on Monday, citing a source familiar with the situation.

RIA said the congress, the idea of which President Vladimir Putin first mentioned at a forum with foreign scholars earlier this month, could take place in mid-November in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi.