UNSC backs plan to end Syria war
US, Russia initiative calls for talks between Assad govt & Opp. in Jan, elections within 18 months
The UN Security Council threw its unanimous support on Friday behind a plan to end Syria’s brutal civil war by summoning rebels and the regime to the negotiating table.
The US and Russian initiative, which emerged from talks with a 17-nation group, foresees a rapid ceasefire in the almost five-year conflict, perhaps as early as January 2016.
If the plan brings Bashar al-Assad’s regime to the table with the armed Opposition, it will allow Russian and US-led forces to focus their firepower on the ISIS group.
“In January we hope and expect to be at the table and to be able to implement a full ceasefire,” US secretary of state John Kerry told reporters.
“And that means all the barrel bombs will stop, all the bombing, all the shooting, all the attacks on either side.”
The Security Council met Friday after the latest round of talks by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), which had gathered in New York to renew its push for peace.
Attention now turns to Moscow and Riyadh, as Russia pressures Mr Assad’s regime to agree to a ceasefire and Saudi Arabia wrangles the Opposition to form a negotiating team.
The UN special envoy on the conflict, Staffan de Mistura, said he would send out invitations to talks in January.
The US and Arab allies remain convinced Mr Assad must leave office as part of the process, but his allies Moscow and Tehran insist this is a decision for the Syrian people.
The resolution enshrines the plan developed by the ISSG countries in a series of meetings in Geneva and Vienna.
“We have a timeframe. That transitional process needs to try to be achieved within the target time of six months,” Mr Kerry said, arguing that the UN vote gave the plan legal force. “The election needs to take place within 18 months, the same start time, so that after six months of the transition you’re about a year away, or less, from an election.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow can easily work with all sides involved in efforts to resolve the conflict Syria, including the US and Mr Assad.
“Regarding the Syrian crisis, we find it easy to work both with President Assad and the American side. I have recently spoken about this with President Obama, and with our friends from Saudi Arabia, and from other Arab nations,” Mr Putin said.
Iran, however, will maintain its backing for the Syrian regime, a senior official said, after the Security Council meeting. “We will continue to give our support to Syria,” said deputy foreign minister Hossein Amir Abdoll-ahian.