Russia has proposed a constitutional reform process lasting up to 18 months in Syria, to be followed by early presidential elections, according to a draft document circulated at the United Nations.
Moscow’s proposal contains eight points, but is silent on whether Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will remain in power during the early elections, according to the document obtained by Reuters on Tuesday. The proposal says certain Syrian opposition groups should be included in the Vienna peace talks Saturday.
Which Syrian opposition groups could be included in the peace process, and which are unacceptable terrorists, should be determined ahead of Saturday’s meeting, a Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman told BBC News.
On Wednesday, Syrian opposition figures dismissed the Russian draft proposal, echoing previous concerns that Moscow was propping up Assad and attempting to marginalize dissent.
While the U.S. has maintained that Assad must step down before there can be peace in Syria, the Russian document does not insist on Assad’s removal.
“[The] popularly elected president of Syria will have the functions of commander-in-chief of the armed forces, control of special services and foreign policy,” the document leaked to Reuters reportedly says.
Both Iran and Russia have been close allies with Assad throughout Syria’s four-year civil war. Iran has sent top commanders from its elite Kuds force to aid efforts against the rebels, and Russia has recently launched airstrikes, which it says are aimed at debilitating ISIS forces there.
Moscow’s increased diplomatic efforts come as the Syrian army has broken a siege in the north and eliminated ISIS forces near the Kuwairis airbase, reports BBC News. Russian airstrikes assisted the Syrian forces, which have succeeded in recapturing the area south of Aleppo.
Approximately 20 countries will attend the Vienna summit Saturday to try to negotiate a ceasefire between Assad’s forces and the rebels. UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura called on the international community to use the “momentum” created by the meeting to create a roadmap for peace.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.