Absent from the text is any mention of the future of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad – a key point of contention among Russian Federation and the Western powers that remains unresolved.
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“We are under no illusions about the obstacles that exist”, Kerry said. It also backed a timeline previously agreed in Vienna for talks between the government on a unity government and opposition, and eventual elections.
Talks between Syria’s government and opposition groups should begin in early January, the resolution said, though Kerry said mid-to-late January was more likely.
“The only sustainable solution to the current crisis in Syria is through an inclusive and Syrian-led political process that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people”, it said.
Attention now turns to Moscow and Riyadh, as Russian Federation pressures Assad´s regime to agree to a ceasefire and Saudi Arabia wrangles the opposition to form a negotiating team.
The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Friday for a resolution supporting negotiations to end the fighting and bring political stability to Syria.
And he emphasized that a victory in the battle against the Islamic State group – also known by the Arabic acronym Daesh – must pass through a peaceful settlement in the broader Syrian civil war.
He said Assad must go if there is to be peace in Syria, stressing that “Assad has lost the ability…to unite the country”. “I reiterate the readiness of the Syrian government to participate effectively on any honest effort where the Syrians will determine their choices through dialogue under Syrian leadership and not foreign intervention”, he said, adding that all countries should coordinate with his government.
The resolution does not touch on this vital issue.
The Syrian conflict has lasted almost five years and killed more than 300,000 people.
The International Syria Support Group that includes foreign ministers of 17 nations met in NY after the latest round of talks to renew the peace talks.
De Mistura said invitations to the talks will go out in January, at least.
It reiterated previous calls for member states to suppress terrorist acts by IS in Iraq, Al-Nusra Front and all others with Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups.
Jordan s foreign minister presented a draft list of “terrorist” groups that the ISSG parties will agree to exclude from the talks.
There must be “guarantees on the departure of Bashar al-Assad”, he said. He said some countries “sent 10, 15, 20 names” and others more.
Western officials say a recent meeting in Saudi Arabia of Opposition figures made significant headway in coming up with an Opposition bloc, though Russian Federation and Iran questioned the legitimacy of the Saudi-hosted discussions.
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Insurgent fractions, including the self-declared “Islamic State” group (IS) will not be included at the negotiation table for the country’s future, nor will the ceasefire apply to such jihadist belligerents, allowing worldwide air strikes on IS targets to continue.
