Russia’s increasing military and diplomatic support for President Bashar-al Assad and US opposition to his rule are complicating the situation.So, what can be done to end the bloodshed in Syria?The Heat spoke to Flynt Leverett. “Not only with the United States of America, Russia, but with important regional partners, Iran, and Sunni countries such as Saudi Arabia”.
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Speaking on September 21, the head of Iran’s judiciary, Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani, blamed Western countries for the refugee crisis.
France is a notable exception, with President Francois Hollande saying that there should be no place for Bashar Assad in post-war Syria.
“As regards Syria, we call for a renewed UN-led worldwide effort to bring an end to the war that has caused so much suffering and forced an estimated 12 million people to leave their homes”, the statement read. The more than 70 activists, who include several former political prisoners, blame Assad and his foreign supporters, including Tehran, for the exodus of tens of thousands of Syrian refugees to Europe.
France Presse reported that Angela Merkel’s statement reflected the European Union leaders’ warming to the embattled Syrian leader.
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has also made similar remarks.
He has given two broadcast interviews in the last month, however.
Russian Federation is a close ally of Syria and has been sending weapons to the Assad regime.
On Saturday, US Secretary of State John Kerry said that reaching a settlement of the Syrian crisis would not necessarily require Assad’s resignation, although he stressed that Assad still had to step down sooner or later, as reported by AFP.
The issue will be discussed by the French and British foreign ministers “in a few hours time”, Fallon added.
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“If we require, even before negotiations start, that Assad step down, we won’t get far,” Fabius told Le Figaro.
