Kerry says USA not seeking to change Assad regime in Syria

Russia, a top Syria ally, and the West continue to be split on the central issue in any discussions on a political transition: the fate of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Western diplomats say that Iran will have to move further towards Russia’s position and fully abandon Assad if there is to be a viable diplomatic solution that ends the war in Syria.

“We know that Daesh can never be allowed to gain control in Syria so we have a global imperative here to deal with a terrorist entity but also to end the civil war”, he said.

“This council is sending a clear message to all concerned that the time is now to stop the killing in Syria and lay the groundwork for a government that the long-suffering people of that battered land can support”, US Secretary of State John Kerry told the 15-nation council after the vote. It also endorsed the continued battle to defeat Islamic State militants who have seized large swaths of both Syria and neighbouring Iraq.

Kerry will also host a meeting of the International Syria Support Group to discuss “efforts to foster a nationwide ceasefire”, along with talks on a political transition in Syria to end the conflict, State Department spokesman John Kirby said.

Russian Federation has been resisting any ouster of Assad during the transition, saying they believe that the ultimate future government of Syria should be up to the Syrians themselves, and not to be decided by the global community.

It called for a Syrian-led political process facilitated by the United Nations to establish within six months “credible, inclusive and non-sectarian governance”, setting a schedule for drafting a new constitution, with free and fair elections to be held within 18 months under United Nations supervision with all Syrians, including members of the diaspora, eligible to vote.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said he presented lists submitted from each country of groups they consider terrorist organizations.

“‎Each country sent its own view”.

He said it was “impossible to reach consensus” in the time available and that other countries would now help Jordan redraft the list in the weeks to come.

This would include, but may not be limited to, the Islamic State group and the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Nusra Front.

Diplomats said the main problem in the negotiations on the resolution involved Russian and Iranian concerns about how to refer to a bloc of opposition groups that would join UN-led peace talks with the Syrian government set to begin in January.

During the first two rounds of ministerial talks on Syria in Vienna, Iran reluctantly signed on to the road map, which is based on the so-called Geneva Communique from June 2012. “Only ballots – not bullets – can ultimately usher in a new era in Syria”.

A peace plan agreed to last month by 20 nations meeting in Vienna sets a January 1 deadline for the start of negotiations between Assad’s government and opposition groups.

“The transitional period has to be without him and he must be tried for his crimes”, he said.