The Security adopts resolution 2254 (2015), requesting the Secretary-General, through his good offices and the efforts of his Special Envoy for Syria, to convene representatives of the Syrian government and the opposition to engage in formal negotiations on a political transition process on an urgent basis, with a target of early January 2016 for the initiation of talks.
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Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and his wife Asma pose for a picture with a Syrian man as they attend a Christmas choral presentation at the Lady of Damascus Catholic Church in the Syrian capital on Friday.
The five permanent members of the council – the U.S. Russia, the U.K., France and China – agreed on the draft text of the resolution during Friday’s third International Syria Support Group meeting in NY.
The Security Council met Friday after the latest round of talks by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), which had gathered in NY to renew its push for peace.
“We have an unambiguous mandate with this United Nations resolution, including a time frame that envisions initial talks toward a cease-fire and the formation of a transitional government”, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said ON Saturday in Berlin after meeting with his Chinese counterpart.
Unanimous approval of a United Nations resolution endorsing a peace process for Syria is a “significant step” towards ending the country’s civil war, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has said. The opposition insists that Assad must be removed from power. It also endorsed the continued battle to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants who have seized large swaths of both Syria and neighboring Iraq.
Kerry made clear that there were still differences on the future of Assad, a close ally of Russian Federation and Iran who Western countries want ousted, as well as on the question of which Syrian opposition groups will have a seat at the table in talks with the government.
Turning to Nigeria developments and the reaching of Islamic Awakening to this West African country Velayati asserted that “the Awakening in Nigeria goes back to 200 years ago, and Mr. Zakzaky is only a recent phenomenon and indefatigable warrior in the Shia cause, which had won the hearts of many people in Nigeria”, he added. Fabius said. “The idea that he could once again stand for elections is unacceptable to us”.
“Turkey will continue to contribute to the political process within this context”, it added.
A peace plan agreed last month by 20 nations meeting in Vienna sets a deadline of 1 January for the start of negotiations.
“I think that Assad is going to have to leave in order for the country to stop the blood(shed), for all the parties involved to be able to move forward in a nonsectarian way”, Obama said at a year-end news conference.
“It did not say what Assad’s fate will be”, Ahmad Ramadan, a spokesman for the National Coalition said.
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Fellow coalition member Samir Nashar said bombing by the regime and Russian Federation must stop for there to be a sustainable ceasefire.
