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<p>The second meeting of the International Syria Support Group in Vienna on 14 November
agreed an outline timetable for Syrian peace negotiations, leading to transitional
governance, a new constitution and elections within eighteen months. The International
Syria Support Group will now meet on a regular basis, in parallel with Syrian-led
discussions facilitated by UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan De Mistura, to take
forward this process.</p><p>Ministers and senior officials have made regular representations
to the UN Special Envoy and other UN officials to impress upon them the importance
of the inclusion of Syrian women’s groups in the peace process. We continue to encourage
the moderate Syrian opposition to be gender-inclusive and were pleased that a senior
female activist accompanied the Syrian National Coalition President, Khaled Khoja,
on his official visit to the UK earlier this month. Our programmes of support to grass
roots peace-building initiatives and civil society groups inside Syria support this
objective, and are designed to ensure that Syrian women’s voices are heard and that
they are represented in political negotiations.</p><br />
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