Draft Intra-Syrian Talks Declaration Upholds Sovereign, Secular Syria

All parties of the intra-Syrian talks recognize respect for the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria, according to a draft declaration of negotiations.

GENEVA (Sputnik) – The sides to the Syrian conflict must respect the country’s sovereignty and independence as a secular state without religiously motivated divisions, a draft declaration on the last day of the latest round of intra-Syrian talks and seen by Sputnik stated on Thursday.

UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura has defined 12 points on which the parties to the talks in Geneva can agree and submitted the draft document to the parties for approval.

"[The parties recognize] respect for the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria. No part of the national territory shall be ceded," the document titled "Essential Principles of a Political Solution in Syria" reads.

The next round of talks between government and several opposition delegations is expected in April.

"Syria shall be a democratic, non-sectarian state based on citizenship and political pluralism," the document continues, calling for a schedule to be defined for a political transition and a new constitution.

UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan De Mistura suggests that all parties to the intra-Syrian talks agree that women should represent at least 30 percent in decision-making structures in Syria in transitional period and afterward.

"Women shall enjoy equality of rights and representation in all institutions and decision-making structures at a level of at least 30 percent during the transition and thereafter," the document prepared by the UN diplomat, summarizing the common points of the delegations and submitted to them for approval says.

The document provides an overview of the results of the current round of Geneva talks and was provided to the parties for approval ahead of the next round of talks slated for April.