US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said there were issues that remained unresolved, which both the countries are looking to address in the coming days.
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Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made the comments after the marathon talks at a luxury hotel on the shores of Lake Geneva.
“I think in the nearest time we will present the fruits of our joint efforts”, Lavrov said.
Washington and Moscow made key steps towards agreeing a new ceasefire in Syria, but a final deal has not been reached, US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart said after talks Friday.
Kerry said USA and Russian experts would continue to meet in Geneva in the coming days to try to iron out remaining obstacles to a durable deal. “We don’t want a deal for the sake of the deal, we want a deal that is effective.and that works for the people of Syria, that makes the region more stable and secure, and that brings us to the table here in Geneva to find a political solution”.
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting a number of opposition factions and extremist groups. Instead, discussions are focused on finding an effective and lasting solution to end the violence, which would open negotiations on a political transition in Syria. Terrorist groups such as Islamic State (ISIL, also known as Daesh), as well as Jabhat Fatah al Sham (also known as Jabhat al-Nusra, or al-Nusra Front) are not part of the deal.
Kerry listed two main requirements to ensure a revamped cease-fire holds: unified responses to cease-fire violations by the Damascus regime, and checks on the rising influence of Nusra Front.
Both sides insisted after the failed talks that they would continue to “hash out details” on a pact, though with little U.S. interest in going after Nusra Front anymore, and Turkey’s invasion adding to the already complicated war, the odds of a final pact coming any time soon seem pretty remote.
The Russian foreign minister said another besieged area was “interested in such an operation with mediation of the Russian Federation”.
Residents and insurgents in Daraya began to leave the besieged area where civilians have been trapped since 2012 and the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross expressed concern for their safety.
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Some opposition groups called the deal a major setback as Sunnis would be forced from their homes, further fracturing the country along sectarian lines.
