Air of pessimism pervades Vienna talks on Syria

Record ID: 103239

  • Title: Air of pessimism pervades Vienna talks on Syria
  • Date: 17th May 2016
  • Summary: VIENNA, AUSTRIA (MAY 17, 2016) (REUTERS) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEI LAVROV, U.S SECRETARY OF STATE, JOHN KERRY AND U.N SPECIAL ENVOY TO SYRIA, STAFFAN DE MISTURA, WALKING ON STAGE TO PODIUMS CAMERAMAN FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S SECRETARY OF STATE, JOHN KERRY, SAYING: "None of us, no-one can be remotely satisfied with the situation in Syria, it's deeply disturbing and we are all concerned about the levels of violence that broke out in recent days challenging the cessation. Russia has worked closely with the United States to upgrade our ability which now has 24 hour bases in Geneva with high level people working consistently." JOURNALISTS TYPING ON COMPUTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S SECRETARY OF STATE, JOHN KERRY, SAYING: "There is leverage in the fact that this war will not end for him (Assad) or for his people without a political settlement, everybody understands that, that is why the International Syria Support Group came together in the first place, that is why we have the cessation of hostilities we have today, and some delivery of humanitarian assistance, not as good as we want, correct, but it's there because we have some leverage. Standing to my right is leverage, Russia." OFFICIALS AT PODIUMS (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S SECRETARY OF STATE, JOHN KERRY, SAYING: "(Special Envoy) De Mistura will facilitate agreements between the Syrian parties for the release of detainees, and we call on any party holding detainees to protect the health and safety of those in their custody." OFFICIALS AT PODIUMS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEI LAVROV, SAYING: "John (Kerry) in his opening statement said, as if it were something to be taken for granted, that Russia and Iran were supporting Assad, but we don't support Assad, we support the fight against terrorism. Today we don't see on the ground a more efficient force than the Syrian government army, taking into account all its shortcomings." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N SPECIAL ENVOY TO SYRIA, STAFFAN DE MISTURA, SAYING: "We cannot wait too long, we want to keep the momentum. The exact date I'm not at the moment revealing it because it will depend also on other facts. What we mean by that, we mean that of course we having Ramadan starting soon so we need to keep that in perspective and we need to bear in mind that credible intra-Syrian talks will become credible when, as we heard, there is a credible development on the cessation of hostilities and a credible improvement on the humanitarian side." NEWS CONFERENCE ENDS / OFFICIALS SHAKING HANDS
  • Embargoed: 1st June 2016 17:00
  • Keywords: Syria Kerry Vienna ceasefire Russia Islamic State Assad
  • Location: VIENNA, AUSTRIA
  • City: VIENNA, AUSTRIA
  • Country: Austria
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014I75NBB
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Major powers sought at talks on Tuesday (May 17) to re-impose a ceasefire across Syria and ensure aid reaches besieged areas, with Moscow and Washington deeply divided over the fate of President Bashar al-Assad and violence rumbling around the country.
    The United States and Russia will help explore who is responsible for ceasefire violations, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said after the talks in Vienna aiming to revive the February "cessation of hostilities."
    U.S. Secretary of State JohnKerry said that progress has been made, but the only way forward was through a political settlement.
    "There is leverage in the fact that this war will not end for him (Assad) or for his people without a political settlement, everybody understands that, that is why the International Syria Support Group came together in the first place, that is why we have the cessation of hostilities we have today, and some delivery of humanitarian assistance, not as good as we want, correct, but it's there because we have some leverage."
    The meeting had resulted in several agreements, including stepping up humanitarian efforts and ensuring the release of detainees.
    Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said his country's support was directed towards fighting terrorism, and not towards supporting Syrian President Bashar Al Assad.
    "John (Kerry) in his opening statement said, as if it were something to be taken for granted, that Russia and Iran were supporting Assad, but we don't support Assad, we support the fight against terrorism," said Lavrov.
    Officials and diplomats had said the talks, including the United States, Russia, Iran, European and Middle East powers, were unlikely to lead to decisions that could change the course of the five-year war that has killed more than 250,000 people.
    A surge in bloodshed in Aleppo, Syria's largest city before the war, wrecked the partial "cessation of hostilities" sponsored by Washington and Moscow, which had allowed U.N.-brokered indirect talks that included the warring sides to take place in Geneva.
    Those talks collapsed last month after the opposition walked out due to a surge in bloodshed. U.N. special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura had hoped to launch a new round of peace talks between the two sides by the end of May.
    After Tuesday's meetings, de Mistura said no decision had been taken yet on the next round, but insisted that the meetings should not be stalled.
    "We cannot wait too long, we want to keep the momentum. We need to bear in mind that credible intra-Syrian talks will become credible when as we heard there is a credible development on the cessation of hostilities and a credible improvement on the humanitarian side," he said.
    The Geneva talks aim to end a war that has created the world's worst refugee crisis, allowed for the rise of the Islamic State group and drawn in regional and global powers.
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