Syrian negotiator says opposition wants transition without Assad

He made the comments in a speech on December 19, a day after the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution that endorses an global roadmap for a peace process in Syria, where the civil war is heading into its fifth year.

Russian Federation – a key ally of the Syrian president – has previously blocked resolutions critical of Mr Assad at the UN Security Council and has continued to supply weapons to the Syrian military despite worldwide criticism.

Speaking to the Middle East News Agency on the sidelines of the global meeting on Syria in NY on Saturday, Shoukry stressed the need to unify efforts to launch the peace process between the Syrian government and opposition.

It also requests that Ban report back to the Security Council on the implementation of the resolution, “including on progress of the UN-facilitated political process”, within 60 days.

“We are under no illusions about the obstacles that exist”, Kerry said.

Al Jazeera’s Diplomatic Editor James Bays, reporting from NY said the text was a long time coming and came despite reservations from Russian Federation.

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.

The Syrian conflict, which started in March 2011, has claimed the lives of more than 250,000 people and displaced almost half of the country’s pre-war population of about 23 million within or out of its borders.

It also calls upon all countries to use their good offices with the Syrian government and the Syrian opposition as well to proceed with the peace process and confidence-building measures and the steps leading to a ceasefire.

“But we must and will protect the institutions that are necessary for the future governance of Syria and that will be possible with a representative transitional governing body and with the support of the ISSG”.

Still, it notes that the cease-fire “will not apply to offensive or defensive actions” against the Islamic State group and al-Nusra Front.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the Syrian people must decide their own future – and “that also covers the future of Syria’s president, and that is our deep conviction”.

Kerry said that there were still sharp disagreements between the ISSG parties, some of which sponsor armed factions on the ground, as to which groups should be banned.

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