LOC17:55
14:55 GMT
PARIS, Nov 2 (KUNA) -- France said on Thursday that the UN-led Geneva process in Geneva was the only forum to discuss political issues in the Syrian crisis, specifically institutional and electoral questions.
Reacting to Russian proposals to hold a major "Syrian Congress" to discuss national dialogue in Sochi on November 18, the French Foreign Ministry said this process could not replace Geneva.
"The Geneva process is the only appropriate forum agreed by the international community to discuss political aspects of the Syrian crisis, in particular the electoral process and a new Constitution," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Agnes Romatet-Espagne said in a briefing here.
She remarked that France encourages everything that can help make the Geneva process a success, based on UN Security Council Resolution 2254.
"International efforts, including those of Russia, must be part of this framework," the French official stressed.
Separately on Syria, Romatet-Espagne indicated that France would strive to get the mandate of the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) renewed on November 17, when the issue comes before the Security Council.
She noted that the JIM, which investigates use of chemical weapons in Syria, was created in a joint initiative by Russia and the US in 2015 and has worked in a professional manner in its investigations.
Russia is currently threatening to block the JIM's renewal because it disputes the body's findings on use of WMD by the Syrian regime.
"France will work for this (renewal) within the Security Council," said the spokeswoman.
"The JIM must be able to pursue its work... to document cases of chemical weapons use in order that no chemical weapons user, State or non-State, may feel protected and will one day answer for his actions," she added.
France also said that it was "pursuing contacts" with Russia and other partners on a French proposal to set up a "Contact Group" to pilot peace efforts in Syria. (end)
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