UN Security Council Agrees Syria Peace Process Resolution

He also stressed the progress of what has been accomplished by the United Nations Security Council on Friday, noting that “for the first time since this war started” the UN was able to successfully introduce a roadmap to try to bring about “a peaceful resolution through a political process”. Imposing and monitoring a cease-fire are impossible in areas under control of the Islamic State group.

That plan, however, makes no mention of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s future in the government.

“You can’t defeat Daesh without also de-escalating the fight in Syria”, Kerry said in Moscow, using another name for ISIS.

“There obviously remains sharp differences”, Mr Kerry said, alluding to the fate of Mr Assad.

At an earlier ministerial meeting, Ban said he urged the government and opposition to implement confidence-building measures, including a halt to the use of barrel bombs and other indiscriminate weapons against civilians, as well as granting unconditional access to aid convoys, lifting restrictions on the delivery of medical aid and releasing all detainees.

Syria’s ambassador to the U.N., Bashar Ja’afari, criticized the “glaring contradictions” between the talk about letting the Syrian people decide their fate and what he called interference in his country’s sovereignty by talking about replacing Assad.

“How could somebody bring together a whole people when he has massacred so many?”. Fabius said. “The idea that he could once again stand for elections is unacceptable to us”.

The question of whether Assad could take part in the political transition continues to be a main sticking point. I think that he is a strong leader. he’s a powerful leader. he’s represented his country – that’s the way the country is being represented. It also backed a timeline previously agreed in Vienna for talks between the government on a unity government and opposition, and eventual elections.

Agreement on a resolution came after a meeting of the so-called International Syria Support Group at New York’s Palace Hotel.

Kerry said talks between the Syrian government and opposition are likely to begin in mid to late January.

Foreign ministers from 17 countries, including Lavrov, Kerry and other European and Middle Eastern ministers, as well as top diplomats from regional rivals Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Iran, were in NY for the meetings.

So when Putin lavished him with praise, Trump bought it. “It is always a great honor to be so nicely complimented by a man so highly respected within his own country and beyond”, Trump said in a statement shortly after Putin’s comments.

It reiterated previous calls for Member States to suppress terrorist acts by Islamic State, Al-Nusra Front and all others.

Wang noted the “severe threat posed by global terrorism”, a reference to the Islamic State group, which has exploited the chaos to seize large parts of Syria.

In fact, Michele adds, Russia’s foreign minister is trying to shape the negotiations by calling for a list of which rebel groups in Syria are terrorists and which can participate in negotiations with the Assad regime.

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