The United States and Russian Federation are close to reaching agreement on national ceasefire in Syria, Secretary of State John Kerry said Friday, but have yet to sign a deal. “But as I have said to you in other contexts before, we’re not going to rush to an agreement until it satisfies fully the needs of the Syrian people and the ability of the worldwide community to address them in ways that can show real results”.
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The top USA and Russian diplomats make clear they have yet to overcome differences on a Syrian ceasefire plan, but both Kerry and Lavrov say a solution is very near.
On that point, he said the United States has not fulfilled its promise to separate the rebel groups it supports from Al-Nusra Front, Al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate, which has been fighting side by side with US -backed forces. “If the remaining details can be completed, we believe we will be able to address the two primary challenges to the cessation of hostilities – the regime violations and the increasing influence of the al-Nusra Front”, Kerry said.
“The Kurds must continue being part of the Syrian state”, said Sergey Lavrov, Russian FM.
Asked about the possibility for success, as the two shook hands and sat down in a Geneva lakeside hotel, Lavrov said, “I don’t want to spoil the atmosphere for the negotiations”.
The U.S. military scrambled jets last week to protect U.S. Special Operations forces in response to a Syrian bombing run near where they were operating.
More than two hours into their meeting, Kerry and Lavrov were joined by United Nations envoy Staffan de Mistura, who on Thursday issued the latest in a series of urgent appeals for progress. Kerry says experts will remain in Geneva with an eye toward finalizing the unresolved steps in the coming days.
Kerry said neither Washington or Moscow is deceived by the name change. Proponents at the White House and the State Department say the deal will allow the U.S.to step up its attacks on Nusra and help protect US allies on the ground in Syria who have faced air attacks from Syrian and Russian forces.
On Thursday, U.N. officials said Russian Federation was on board for the temporary pause in fighting in and around Aleppo. Another mission would go to southern Aleppo to help revive a damaged electric plant that powers crucial pumping stations that supply water for 1.8 million people. At the same time, the administration is not of one mind regarding the Russians.
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Separately, Syrian rebels and government forces agreed in a deal yesterday to evacuate all residents and insurgents from the besieged Damascus suburb of Daraya, ending one of the longest standoffs in the five-year conflict. While Russia is providing military support to the government of embattled President Bashar al-Assad, the USA is supporting rebel groups seeking to bring Assad down.
