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Assad haters livid as Obama ‘accepts Russia’s stance’ on Syria

Speaking to MPs earlier this week, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond held out the possibility that the meeting of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) could produce a text for the council which will not be vetoed by Russian Federation.

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The resolution enshrines the plan developed by the ISSG countries in a series of meetings in Geneva and Vienna.


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The Syrian conflict has lasted almost five years and killed more than 300,000 people.


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Russian Federation and Iran have consistently rejected foreign governments’ calls for Assad’s departure.

The United Nations Security Council reached agreement Friday on a plan that aims to end civil war in Syria.

Syrian President Bashar al Assad attended Christmas choir preparations in an ancient church close to a frontline area in the capital Damascus where his army is engaged in heavy fighting with rebels, state media said on Saturday.

“The truth is that nothing would do more to bolster the fight against the terrorists than a broadly supported diplomatic process that gives the Syrian people a real choice – not a choice between President Bashar Assad or Daesh, but between war and peace, between the violent extremes and a newly empowered political center”, Kerry said.

It says it should establish “credible, inclusive and non-sectarian governance” followed within 18 months by UN-supervised “free and fair elections” with a parallel effort to secure a ceasefire. Kerry said “sharp differences” remain on Assad and stressed that “Assad has lost the ability…to unite the country”.

The US and Arab allies remain convinced Assad must leave office as part of the process, but his allies Moscow and Tehran insist this is a decision for the Syrian people.

“It will be up to Syrians to decide”, said Amir Abdollahian.

Lavrov said that the most important success of the meeting is activating “Vienna document” through adopting the resolution and authorizing de Mistura full to start the work and call for holding meetings between the Syrian Government and Various opposition groups. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius asked, referring to Assad.

“Terrorist groups have no place in this national dialogue”, he was quoted as saying.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, calling the United Nations discussions “difficult”, said the officials had determined that “the destiny and future of Syria is something that must be decided and carried out by the Syrian people”.

Parry’s opinion piece came in response to a Washington Post editorial, chastising the Obama administration for what they see as an about-face following four years of a (failed) “Assad-must-go” strategy. He said some countries “sent 10, 15, 20 names” and others more.

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Najib Ghadbian, the SNC’s envoy to the United Nations, said opposition groups need “a month or so” to prepare for the political talks that would begin in tandem with a ceasefire.

'John Kerry- typical of American foreign policy- is talking out from both sides of his mouth at the same time,” James Henry Fetzer told Press TV on Sunday