By Michelle Nichols, July 29, 2015, published in Reuters

Residents walk on a street after fighters from a coalition of rebel groups called ''Jaish al Fateh'', also known as ''Army of Fatah'' (Conquest Army), captured Zeyzoun thermal station from forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, activists said, in al-Ghab plain in... REUTERS/AMMAR ABDULLAH

Residents walk on a street after fighters from a coalition of rebel groups called ”Jaish al Fateh”, also known as ”Army of Fatah” (Conquest Army), captured Zeyzoun thermal station from forces loyal to Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, activists said, in al-Ghab plain in…
REUTERS/AMMAR ABDULLAH

The United Nations mediator in Syria’s conflict on Wednesday proposed inviting warring parties to take part in four U.N.-led working groups on how to implement a roadmap to peace, since the groups were not ready to hold formal peace talks.

Mediator Staffan de Mistura told the U.N. Security Council that the groups would address safety and protection for all, political and constitutional issues, military and security issues, and public institutions, reconstruction and development.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the aim was to set up the working groups as soon as possible. He said he was ready to convene a high-level conference to endorse any framework agreement they reached.

The briefing was the culmination of nearly three months of consultations with Syrians and world and regional powers on implementing the Geneva Communique, a roadmap adopted by world powers in June 2012 calling for political transition while leaving the role of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad unresolved.

“Sadly there is still no consensus on the way forward on the Communique or yet a formalized negotiation,” said de Mistura, whose two predecessors resigned in frustration at the failure to make headway in ending the Syrian war.

“While common ground exists, the questions over devolution of executive authority to a transitional body, let’s be honest with ourselves, remains the most polarized element of the Communique,” de Mistura said.

He said the working groups could be a step toward a “Syrian-owned framework document” that would provide for a transitional body, procedures for national dialogue, a constitution drafting process and transitional justice issues.

Read the full article here.