Kerry tries to broker end to war, meeting in the works
VIENNA — A meeting of nations invested in the Syrian civil war will convene as early as next week to see whether they can chart a path to negotiations on the country’s future, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Friday.
Speaking at the end of a day of meetings with diplomats from Russia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, Kerry told reporters that they hope to meet next Friday to discuss ways to bring four and half years of fighting to a close. The meeting would include countries that are involved militarily, like Russia and the United States, and countries that are swamped with Syrian refugees, such as Turkey and several European countries.
Kerry did not rule out the possibility that Iran, which along with Russia is the primary backer of Syrian President Bashar Assad, might participate in talks, but declined to say when that might be.
“This is terrible human toll unfolding before our eyes,” he said, citing streams of refugees fleeing Syria, and cities bombed to rubble. “It requires a global effort of all people of conscience, and nations, to do everything possible to bring this to a close.”
Kerry acknowledged that there’s a basic difference of opinion on Assad’s future, with Russia and Syria saying he must stay until a military campaign destroys Islamic State militants, and the United States and most other countries insisting that he must step down.
But Kerry said the governments concerned about Syria’s civil war agree the fighting must stop.
“All parties are agreed, now’s the time to end the fighting and advance this political transition,” he said. “The obvious question is, how do you get there? The answer is in discussions and consultations we are going to have.”
The multinational composition of the upcoming meeting reflects how the Syrian conflict has increasingly become a struggle involving dozens of nations.
In recent weeks, Moscow has positioned its military in Syria and conducted heavy airstrikes that have allowed Assad’s forces to resume ground offensives. The military intervention has also alarmed the Pentagon, which is leading a separate air campaign against the Islamic State.
Russia claims its attacks are primarily aimed at the Islamic State, but many of the Russian airstrikes have targeted rebel groups fighting to oust Assad, who is also backed by Tehran.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow wants more countries involved, in particular Iran and Egypt. On Thursday, Putin said he thinks that Assad is ready to have a dialogue with his opponents.
At a 2012 conference, diplomats drew up principles for a peace deal that includes a transitional government to ease Assad from power. But it has faltered, and a key opposition group recently threatened to boycott future talks.