UN Syria envoy releases post-war 'principles'
The office of the UN Special Envoy to Syria has released the so-called 12 Living Intra-Syrian Essential Principles document for life post war in the country which was distributed to the government and opposition delegations meeting in Geneva this week.
The statement said that Staffan de Mistura has requested that the delegations further reflect upon and offer responses to the living principles document when the talks resume next week.
The release came hours after the head of the government delegation, Bashar Ja'afari, told reporters that de Mistura had put forward the principles document without consulting with the delegations.
De Mistrua's office said the principles seek to embody end-state commonalities and seek to offer an enduring perspective on the vision of a future that can be shared by all Syrians, but do not address the question of how to realize that vision.
The 12 principles include respect of and full commitment to Syria's national sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity and that the Syrian people alone shall determine the future of their country by democratic means.
It also calls for a strong, unified, meritocratic and national army that carries out its duties in accordance with the constitution and the highest standards.
