UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura was rejected by the government in his visit to Damascus on Wednesday. Mistura had launched an initiative to have the Damascus regime lift the restriction against a Constitutional committee to be formed. The idea for this committee had been put forth to develop a new Constitution to lay the foundations of a transition period in Syria.

On the Syrian regime’s rejection, the UN Security Council has decided to convene in New York today. Mistura is expected to join the conference via video conference on the US’ demand.

UN Representative Mistura had told the UN Security Council that he would be leaving his post by the end of November and work to have the Syrian government form a Constitutional committee under the umbrella of the UN.

The decision to form such a committee had been taken in the meetings in Sochi held in January under Russia’s lead. Since then, talks have extended and the Syrian regime has taken over many regions in the militaristic sense.

According to Sanaa News Agency, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallim has told Mistura clearly that the Constitution is an issue of sovereignty.

The Security Council meeting will be held before the summit on Saturday where leaders from Russia, Turkey, France and Germany will meet in Istanbul. Russia and Western countries are expected to be at odds again in this meeting.