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Syria: UN approves peace process
Talks between Syria’s government and opposition should begin in early January, the resolution said.
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A unanimous vote of the UN Security Council has endorsed a peace plan for Syria.
“There are reasons for optimism but, every now and then, we have to pinch ourselves and remind ourselves that there is still this huge question that divides us around the table over the future of Assad”, Mr Hammond said.
But he accepted that there was “still a very long way to go” and the text failed to address what role Bashar Assad should play – one of the major diplomatic sticking points.
The council’s adoption of a resolution on Friday backing the plan comes amid world powers’ growing sense that the top priority in Syria should be the defeat of the Islamic State group, which has exploited the country’s years of chaos and created a base from which it promotes deadly attacks overseas.
“One track is for the Syrian government and the opposition that is interested in a peaceful future of Syria to come together for national unity, for the political process”.
“I reiterate the readiness of the Syrian government to participate effectively on any honest effort where the Syrians will determine their choices through dialogue under Syrian leadership and not foreign intervention”, he said, adding that all countries should coordinate with his government.
“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.
USA secretary of state John Kerry, who joined Mr Hammond and other foreign ministers for talks among the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) in NY, said that by setting out clear goals and timings, the resolution was a clear “milestone”.
Left unclear was whether the early January deadline for the start of talks between the opposition and government can be met. Kerry told reporters it may slip until mid- or late-January.
Kerry said other countries would help Jordan draw up a final list.
The worldwide roadmap stipulates only the “Syrian people will decide the future of Syria”. The UN says tens of thousands of people are trapped in besieged areas.
While maintaining its firm backing for Assad in public, Russian Federation has recently made clear to Western nations that it has no objection to him stepping down as part of the peace process, diplomats said.
Asked about the presence of Iranian military advisers in Syria, Zarif said the move shows the Islamic Republic’s seriousness in fighting the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group.
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However, Western-backed groups were reported to have been hit. The resolution foresees the first talks beginning in January.