Kerry softens deadline for Syria ‘transition deal’
Under a UNSC plan, Bashar al-Assad’s regime and his opposition had until August to agree the outlines of a political process
US Secretary of State John Kerry said that the August 1 date set for Syria's warring parties to agree the framework of a political transition is a "target" not a deadline.
Under the terms of the peace plan agreed by the UN Security Council, Bashar al-Assad’s regime and his opposition had until August to agree the outlines of a political process.
But, speaking after a meeting of the International Syria Support Group, Kerry said: “The August date is not a drop date, it’s a target date, and we all recognize that if we make significant progress and we're moving we will respect that process.”
Saudi on ‘Plan B’ on Syria
Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday that if President Assad did not abide with efforts to establish a truce across Syria country, alternatives would need to be looked at.
“We believe we should have moved to a ‘Plan B’ a long time ago,” Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told reporters after a meeting of foreign governments in Vienna.
“The choice about moving to an alternative plan, the choice about intensifying the military support (to the opposition) is entirely with the Bashar regime. If they do not respond to the treaties of the international community...then we will have to see what else can be done.”
(With Reuters)
Also Read
-
Big powers fail to set new date for Syria peace talks
The main Syrian opposition said it was not willing to return to talks without a full ceasefire and access for humanitarian aid Middle East -
Red Cross: Situation remains ‘dramatic’ in besieged areas of Syria
Red Cross Middle East director says people are eating grass because ‘they don’t have real food supplies’ and drink from ‘contaminated sources of water’ Middle East -
Hezbollah’s vulnerability in Syria: Open exposure to many enemies
Syria has been a costly undertaking for the party on the military, intelligence and financial fronts Middle East -
ISIS militants on the defensive in Syria and Iraq
Nervousness was evidenced by the recent public executions in the city's main square and a widespread clamp down on internet Middle East
