The resolution urges the Syrian government and its opposition to embark, under the auspices of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, on “urgent” discussions of a “political transition process” for the country.
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Amir Abdollahian said Iran would work with Russia, Oman, Egypt, Turkey, Jordan and France to prepare a list of extremist groups it wants to see banned from talks.
Kerry said that the US goal is to achieve peace: “This revolution began with young Syrians demonstrations, but they collided with Assad’s thugs”.
The resolution makes no mention of whether Syria’s president, Bashar Assad, would be able to run in new elections, which it says must be held within 18 months of the beginning of political talks.
“If the responsible countries take actions against the flood and the flow of terrorists and the logistic support, I can guarantee that it will take less than one year”, he said, explaining that the terrorist groups don’t have genuine public support in Syria. “Some countries sent 15 to 20, others sent more”, he told reporters.
The text tasks the United Nations with setting up and implementing a ceasefire across Syria.
Kerry traveled to Moscow this week to assure the Syrian leader’s key ally Russian President Vladimir Putin that Washington is not seeking “regime change” in Syria.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said about the resolution: “This is a clear response to attempts to impose a solution from the outside on Syrians on any issues, including those regarding its president”. “Without peace talks, the cease-fire can not be sustained. Without a cease-fire, peace talks can not continue to produce results”, he said. It also endorsed the continued battle to defeat Islamic State militants, who have seized large parts of both Syria and neighbouring Iraq.
Now, the two-year road map begins, with peace talks, a unity government and eventual elections.
Friday’s meeting of the International Syria Support Group, or ISSG, the third in six weeks, sought to put in place a peace plan reached by ministers last month in Vienna under the umbrella of the United Nations. Najib Ghadbian estimated a month of preparation is needed.
But even then they’re not safe from government airstrikes. The strikes are focused on more moderate forces fighting Assad in areas where the Islamic State group has little or no presence.
“For us, the utmost priority is to stop the killing”.
“We must realize the political process is going to go backward if we are not making progress”, Wang said.
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The man who will lead negotiations for the coalition – former Prime Minister Riad Hiab who defected in 2012 – said Mr Assad should have no role in the negotiations.
