Kerry, in Vienna, seeks diplomatic solution to Syrian war

The two war-time leaders discussed Russia’s military and political efforts in helping Syria recover from the devastating war that has been waged against it, with Moscow pledging to intensify its support of Damascus as the anti-terrorist counter-offensive is gaining momentum.

“Today’s meeting was constructive and productive and succeeded in surfacing a few ideas, which I am not going to share today, but which I hope have a possibility of changing the dynamic”, Kerry told reporters after the talks. The Kremlin has closely coordinated its military operations with the Syrian regime and its other global backers, Iran and the Lebanese militia Hezbollah.

The visit continued a flurry of highly visible events which included Assad’s visit, a media tour to show off Russian air power at its base in Syria, and Friday’s meeting of foreign ministers from Russia, the United States, Turkey and Saudi Arabia in Vienna. Kerry said there was no decision on whether to invite Iran, a major patron of Syria.

However, on Thursday, Putin suggested that the Syrian government might be willing to work with rebel groups to root out the Islamic State. Kerry then met separately with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad’s prime backer. USA officials believe Mr. Assad is incapable of leading Syria due to his violent crackdown on political opponents that has included the use of chemical weapons and barrel bombs, according to global observers.

“We are contemplating this and will try to implement it”, Putin said during a meeting with dignitaries and media in the southern Russian resort town of Sochi.

It is equally important “to agree on not just targets of the enemy, our common enemy, terrorism, but to also agree on those areas (in Syria) which are controlled by the patriotic opposition, to help it confront ISIS and other terrorists and to get this armed patriotic opposition to join in the political process as well”, the Russian minister said. He said that Assad’s continued presence is the only thing preventing that goal from being realized.

Syria is now in its fifth year of a civil war that has killed hundreds of thousands, contributed to a massive refugee crisis in Europe and been complicated by the emergence of the Islamic State group and Russia’s direct military intervention.

The lawmakers’ visit, announced by Russian news agencies, comes three days after Assad made a surprise trip to Moscow to meet with President Vladimir Putin.

“It will require full-scale negotiations between representatives of the Syrian government and an entire spectrum of the opposition, both domestic and foreign, with an active support of foreign players”.