Russia urged to explain Syria plans as diplomatic pressure mounts

Shaaban said there was a “change in the West’s positions” over Syria’s war, which has killed more than 240,000 people and displaced millions since 2011.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday that President Bashar al-Assad should be involved in any Syrian peace talks, amid mounting pressure to end the four-year conflict, according to AFP. European officials are warning with new urgency that the refugee crisis now engulfing the continent has no hope of ending without a political solution in Syria.

“It is possible that this [transition] process may be without Assad or the transition process may continue with Assad”.

The diplomat noted the recent flurry of diplomatic activity on Syria after the Iran nuclear deal was announced, including a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Qatar, but said that window “slammed shut” with Russia’s new military buildup. Millions of Syrians fled.

Le Drian said: “We know what everyone can see, the very significant buildup of Russian forces both in the port of Tartus and above all, with the setting-up of a military airport to the south of Latakia and the presence of several fighter jets, combat helicopters and drone capacity there”.

“We’re not being doctrinaire about the specific date or time – we’re open”, Kerry said. “Is Russian Federation prepared to bring him to the table and actually find the solution to this violence?” “So that’s why we’re where we are”.

Mrs Merkel was speaking at the end of the European Union refugee summit, amid indications the focus is now shifting towards the Syrian civil war as the cause of the crisis.

“I think the first step now is to sit down with the United States and to make clear what are (Russia’s) intentions… and to try to cooperate and give a constructive contribution to the efforts led by the United States to fight ISIL (Islamic State)”, he said.

Hollande and Fabius have said that even with atrocities committed by Islamic State, about 80 percent of civilian deaths in the war are the result of actions by Assad’s forces.

The Syrian conflict can not be solved by military ways, TASS quoted German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier as saying in Berlin on Wednesday.

Mr Al-Qabani emphasised that the Syrian people have performed “miracles” and have shown a high level of awareness and resistance to “the conspiracy which targets the country“. Nevertheless, we must start somewhere, and removing Assad would be a step in the right direction, improving the humanitarian situation and restoring some semblance of American leadership and credibility in the region.