The UN Security Council has unanimously agreed on the text of a draft resolution for peace talks in January and a ceasefire aimed at ending the war in Syria.
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It also calls for a nationwide cease-fire in Syria to come into effect “as soon as the representatives of the Syrian government and the opposition have begun initial steps towards a political transition under United Nations auspices”.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said he presented lists submitted from each country of groups they consider terrorist organizations.
“Turkey will continue to contribute to the planned political process in this regard”, the statement said.
It reiterated previous calls for Member States to suppress terrorist acts by Islamic State, Al-Nusra Front and all others.
He said Kerry’s efforts in NY offered “an opportunity, not to turn back the clock- it’s going to be hard to completely overcome the devastation that’s happened in Syria already- but to find a political transition that maintains the Syrian state, that recognises a bunch of stakeholders inside of Syria and hopefully to initiate a ceasefire”.
This is the only way to settle the conflict in Syria, outline a Syrian constitution and hold Syrian elections under United Nations supervision, the Egyptian top diplomat said.
The conflict in Syria has killed upwards of 300,000 people and displaced millions more, creating the world’s worst refugee crisis since the second world war.
“The initial work has been done”.
The resolution, which comes at a summit of 17 foreign ministers in NY, rubber-stamps a plan agreed on in Vienna last month that would lead to the establishment of a transitional government in Syria within six months and new elections within 18 months.
At an earlier ministerial meeting, Ban said he urged the government and opposition to implement confidence-building measures, including a halt to the use of barrel bombs and other indiscriminate weapons against civilians, as well as granting unconditional access to aid convoys, lifting restrictions on the delivery of medical aid and releasing all detainees. Assad responded with sarcasm when asked whether he was comforted that Washington’s stance on his departure had seemingly softened. “I had to leave, but now I can stay”, he joked.
“This council is sending a clear message to all concerned that the time is now to stop the killing in Syria and lay the groundwork for a government that the long-suffering people of that battered land can support”, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told the 15-nation council after the vote.
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The European Union, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Arab League are also represented.
