Germany's Steinmeier says US, Russia talking about Syria ceasefire, aid

Record ID: 76458

  • Title: Germany's Steinmeier says US, Russia talking about Syria ceasefire, aid
  • Date: 9th December 2016
  • Summary: HAMBURG, GERMANY (DECEMBER 9, 2016) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER, FRANK-WALTER STEINMEIER, AND AUSTRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SEBASTIAN KURZ, ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE VARIOUS OF JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER, FRANK-WALTER STEINMEIER, SAYING: "Of course we are not where we need to be. But the fact that the U.S. and Russian foreign ministers John Kerry and Sergei Lavrov are talking about the issue of pauses in fighting and humanitarian aid again is at least a small amount of progress." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER, FRANK-WALTER STEINMEIER, SAYING: "Tomorrow we will be at another Syria conference in Paris, where we will continue our discussions. But it's clear that forums like the OSCE are necessary to facilitate new initiatives using smaller discussion formats to unblock negotiations and talks that had appeared blocked, and to at least make initiatives for a new ceasefire possible." STEINMEIER SPEAKING NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (German) AUSTRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SEBASTIAN KURZ, SAYING: "First of all the focus will be on the existing conflicts. The OSCE must continue to make a strong contribution not only in Ukraine but also in the other conflicts in the OSCE area and try to ensure that the conflicts do not escalate, and where possible it must defuse them. Secondly we want to focus on the fight against radicalisation and terrorism." JOURNALISTS STEINMEIER AND KURZ SHAKING HANDS, LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 24th December 2016 16:13
  • Keywords: Frank-Walter Steinmeier OSCE Hamburg Sebastian Kurz Syria ceasefire humanitarian aid
  • Location: HAMBURG, GERMANY
  • City: HAMBURG, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015C5W9C7
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier highlighted on Friday (December 9) the importance of extending talks on Syria, mainly discussing a ceasefire to allow aid delivery.
    "Of course we are not where we need to be. But the fact that the U.S. and Russian foreign ministers John Kerry and Sergei Lavrov are talking about the issue of pauses in fighting and humanitarian aid again is at least a small amount of progress," he told reporters at a news conference after a two-day OSCE meeting in Hamburg.
    U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Thursday (December 8) he was "hopeful" about reaching an agreement with Russia over the Syrian city of Aleppo but that he was still waiting for "certain feedback and input".
    Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday accused the United States of stalling talks on evacuating remaining rebel-held parts of the Syrian city of Aleppo, and said it was taking "strange" and contradictory positions.
    Lavrov said there was still a good chance of reaching a deal, as long as Washington did not change its mind about participating in a meeting of technical experts over the weekend.
    France hosts a ministerial meeting of representatives from European countries, Arab states and the United States.
    Steinmeier was hopeful talks would go on in Paris on Saturday (December 10).
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