United Nations adopts resolution on Syrian peace process

But the resolution makes no mention of the most contentious issue, the future role of Syrian President Bashar 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.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday there remain “sharp differences” on the fate of Assad.

It supports free and fair elections in accordance with the new constitution within 18 months under the supervision of the United Nations that responds to the requirements of governance and the highest global standards in terms of transparency and accountability.

But Resolution 2254 strongly implies that negotiations should include every rebel group, except Jabhat al-Nusra, an affiliate of al-Qaeda, and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil).

Assad’s ally Iran, on the other hand, has refused talks with any group it considers terrorist including the Ahrar al-Sham faction, which it describes as a terrorist organisation.

Mr Hammond aknowledged that the process would be “messy”, but said it was important to “use all the forces available to support the integrity of the Syrian state and drive out Daesh”. We have more military means.

Assad has portrayed himself in recent interviews with the Western media as a protector of Syria’s minorities, saying his rule was an example of religious tolerance in a country threatened by Islamist insurgents who have taken swathes of territory and seek to impose their version of strict Islam. “And we will use them – if need be”.

The resolution calls on the secretary-general to convene representatives of the Syrian government and opposition “to engage in formal negotiations on a political transition process on an urgent basis, with a target of early January 2016 for the initiation of talks”.

“Those who should be invited are only Syrians that represent the opposition – the armed opposition who are patriotic”.

“The meeting between Putin and the Supreme Leader Khamenei was very successful and now Iran and Russian Federation share the same view on Assad”, the official said.

He says that his administration is an example of tolerance that contrasts with the behaviour of militants, including the Islamic State group that has seized large swathes of the war-torn country.

The US and Russian initiative, which emerged from talks with a 17-nation group, foresees a rapid ceasefire in the nearly five-year-old conflict, perhaps as early as next month.

A number of states are conducting military campaigns in the Syria against the group.