The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria,  Geir Pedersen,  speaks to the press in Geneva, Switzerland, October 17, 2021. (Photo: AP)

The drafting committee, comprising 45 representatives of Syria’s government, opposition, and civil society, has a mandate to draw up a new basic law. 

Special Envoy Geir Pedersen said the co-chairs, who met together for the first time ahead of week-long talks, had agreed to "prepare and start drafting constitutional reform" and added that the talks, the sixth round in two years and the first since January, will discuss "clear principles".