French Foreign Minister calls for U.N. involvement in Syria talks

Record ID: 165500

  • Title: French Foreign Minister calls for U.N. involvement in Syria talks
  • Date: 24th January 2017
  • Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (JANUARY 24, 2017) (REUTERS) SAUDI FOREIGN MINSTER AND FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER ENTERING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER, JEAN-MARC AYRAULT, SAYING: "There is a meeting in Astana today. We want it to be a success at least on one point, the actual cessation of hostilities. I don't know whether there will be a reached agreement but we hope so. But what we ask for is that the negotiations resume as soon as possible in Geneva in the frame and the authority of the United Nations. We spoke also about the situation in Yemen and we support the U.N.'s efforts." FRENCH FLAG NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER, JEAN-MARC AYRAULT, SAYING: "The creation of a Palestinian state living in peace next to Israel can only be done through negotiation between the parties, but by organising this conference in Paris we wanted to remind of the necessity and the urgency to resume those negotiations on the basis of 1967 borders and Jerusalem as a capital, otherwise we are preparing ourselves for despair and further violence. The relationship with Saudi Arabia of course has an economic dimension and is already strong." CAMERAMAN SAUDI AND FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTERS SHAKING HANDS AND LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 7th February 2017 16:21
  • Keywords: France Saudi Arabia Syria
  • Location: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA
  • City: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA00160FZ9ZB
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Saudi Arabia and France, both backers of Syrian rebels, said on Tuesday (January 24) they hoped Syrian truce talks in Astana would lead to a resumption of U.N.-led peace efforts in Geneva and more aid to civilians suffering from five years of war.
    In a joint news conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault urged talks to resume "as soon as possible in Geneva in the frame and the authority of the United Nations".
    Iran, Russia and Turkey ended talks in Kazakhstan on Tuesday with the announcement of full compliance with a ceasefire between warring Syrian parties.
    Saudi Arabia did not take part in the Astana meetings, though a French envoy attended informally with other Western counterparts.
    The talks in Astana come after years of intermittent talks in Geneva failed to resolve the conflict.
    The next round of Geneva talks, led by the United Nations, will be held on February 8.
    The U.N. special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, took part in the Astana talks.
    Saudi Arabia, one of the chief backers of the rebels, has not indicated whether it will continue sending them military support since they were routed from the Syrian city of Aleppo in December.
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