UN endorses peace process for Syria, but no mention of Assad

[rooster59]

UN endorses peace process for Syria, but no mention of Assad

EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press
CARA ANNA, Associated Press


UNITED NATIONS (AP) — U.N. Security Council members unanimously approved a U.N. resolution Friday endorsing a peace process for Syria including a cease-fire and talks between the Damascus government and the opposition, but the draft makes no mention of the most contentious issue — the future role of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

The resolution makes clear that the blueprint it endorses will not end the conflict, deep into its fifth year with well over 300,000 killed, because "terrorist groups," including the Islamic State group and the al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front, are not part of the cease-fire.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry praised "the unprecedented degree of unity" in the council, which has been stymied in the past over a political solution in Syria, and called the resolution "a milestone."

Foreign ministers from 17 countries met for more than five hours on how to implement their call in Vienna last month for a cease-fire and the start of negotiations between the government and opposition in early January. At the same time, diplomats worked to overcome divisions on the text of the resolution.

The resulting agreement "gives the Syrian people a real choice, not between Assad and Daesh, but between war and peace," Kerry said, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State extremists.

"We're under no illusions about the obstacles that exist ... especially about the future of President Assad" where "sharp differences" remain, Kerry said.

But he made clear that Assad must go if there is to be peace in Syria.

"Assad has lost the ability ... to unite the country," Kerry said. "If the war is to end, it is imperative that the Syrian people have to agree on an alternative" to their government.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Syria was "in ruins," singling out besieged areas where "thousands of people have been forced to live on grass and weeds," which he called "outrageous."

"This marks a very important step on which we must build," Ban said of Friday's resolution.

At an earlier ministerial meeting, Ban said he urged the government and opposition to implement confidence-building measures, including a halt to the use of barrel bombs and other indiscriminate weapons against civilians, as well as granting unconditional access to aid convoys, lifting restrictions on the delivery of medical aid and releasing all detainees.

Ministers said they would meet again in January.

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."

Within six months, the process should establish "credible, inclusive and non-sectarian governance," and set a schedule for drafting a new constitution. U.N.-supervised "free and fair elections" are to be held within 18 months under the new constitution.

The resolution calls the transition Syrian-led and Syrian-owned, stressing that the "Syrian people will decide the future of Syria."

The resolution also says cease-fire efforts should move forward in parallel with the talks, and it asks Ban to report within a month on ways to monitor the cease-fire.

Still, it notes that the cease-fire "will not apply to offensive or defensive actions" against the Islamic State group and al-Nusra Front. This means that airstrikes by Russia, France and the U.S.-led coalition apparently would not be affected, nor would military action by the extremists.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said he presented lists submitted from each country of groups they consider terrorist organizations. He said some countries "sent 10, 15, 20 names" and others more.

"Now I think there will be follow-up steps in terms of countries meeting again to set criteria which will help filter the list," Judeh said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed that "terrorists of all stripes have no place in the talks."

"It is inadmissible to divide terrorists among good and bad ones," he said.

Those around the table included the United States, key European nations and Saudi Arabia, who support the Syrian opposition, and the Assad government's top allies, Russia and Iran.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the two most important issues are launching political negotiations among Syrian parties and implementing a U.N.-monitored cease-fire. "Without peace talks, the cease-fire cannot be sustained. Without a cease-fire, peace talks cannot continue to produce results," he said.

Wang noted the "severe threat posed by international terrorism," a reference to the Islamic State group, which has exploited the chaos to seize large parts of Syria.

The peace plan agreed to in Vienna last month by 17 nations as well as the U.N., European Union, Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation sets a Jan. 1 deadline for the start of negotiations between Assad's government and opposition groups.

That deadline is "too ambitious a timetable," the U.N. representative for the Syrian National Coalition, the main Western-backed opposition group, told reporters Friday. Najib Ghadbian estimated that a month of preparation is needed.

Ghadbian also said a comprehensive solution to the conflict requires "the removal of all foreign troops from Syria, all of them," including Russia, which began a campaign of airstrikes in September that have focused on more moderate forces fighting Assad in areas where the Islamic State group has little or no presence.

The coordinator of the opposition team that will negotiate with the Syrian government, former Prime Minister Riad Hijab, said in Saudi Arabia on Friday that Assad should have no role during a transitional period. He also called for "confidence-building measures" such as the lifting of a siege imposed on rebel-held areas and a halt to airstrikes.

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-12-19

[metisdead]

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[Asiantravel]

why is the world putting such intense effort into this matter while simultaneously turning a blind eye to such repressive regimes as Eritrea or for that matter even Saudi Arabia which is listed as number 3 on a list of the 10 most repressive countries in the world?

[craigt3365]

why is the world putting such intense effort into this matter while simultaneously turning a blind eye to such repressive regimes as Eritrea or for that matter even Saudi Arabia which is listed as number 3 on a list of the 10 most repressive countries in the world?

Because they've not created a humitarian disaster like this, with 4 million refugees:

http://www.unhcr-northerneurope.org/news-detail/total-number-of-syrian-refugees-exceeds-four-million-for-first-time

Or doing things on a scale like this:

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/12/7000-syrians-tortured-killed-detention-151217084448796.html

Up to 7,000 Syrians tortured or killed in detention New evidence released by a rights group says thousands were tortured or killed in government detention centres in Syria.

[Asiantravel]

why is the world putting such intense effort into this matter while simultaneously turning a blind eye to such repressive regimes as Eritrea or for that matter even Saudi Arabia which is listed as number 3 on a list of the 10 most repressive countries in the world?

Because they've not created a humitarian disaster like this, with 4 million refugees:

http://www.unhcr-northerneurope.org/news-detail/total-number-of-syrian-refugees-exceeds-four-million-for-first-time

Or doing things on a scale like this:

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/12/7000-syrians-tortured-killed-detention-151217084448796.html

Up to 7,000 Syrians tortured or killed in detention New evidence released by a rights group says thousands were tortured or killed in government detention centres in Syria.

yes dreadful but I can’t help wondering if the USA providing weapons to rebels to fight the Syrian government exacerbated the situation?

[craigt3365]

why is the world putting such intense effort into this matter while simultaneously turning a blind eye to such repressive regimes as Eritrea or for that matter even Saudi Arabia which is listed as number 3 on a list of the 10 most repressive countries in the world?

Because they've not created a humitarian disaster like this, with 4 million refugees:

http://www.unhcr-northerneurope.org/news-detail/total-number-of-syrian-refugees-exceeds-four-million-for-first-time

Or doing things on a scale like this:

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/12/7000-syrians-tortured-killed-detention-151217084448796.html

Up to 7,000 Syrians tortured or killed in detention New evidence released by a rights group says thousands were tortured or killed in government detention centres in Syria.

yes dreadful but I can’t help wondering if the USA providing weapons to rebels to fight the Syrian government exacerbated the situation?

Probably did! Just like the Russians bombing non IS targets and killing innocent civilians. And then there's the Iranian boots on the ground. Funding by Saudia Arabia. A horrible mess.

[simple1]

As previously mentioned never forget the awful atrocities being carried out by Assad's militias (Shabiha), including rape as a tool of war, deliberately killing unarmed protesters during the Syrian Arab Spring. Killing civilian women and children in their cleansing campaigns and torturing to death civilians, including children.

It must make some diplomats sick to the stomach having to find pragmatic solutions dealing with the Assad regime.

Edited December 19, 2015 by simple1

[craigt3365]

There are just too many instances, and too many allegations by the UN, of atrocities in Syria. Just because a fringe website says it didn't happen, doesn't mean it didn't. I'm not a big fan of the UN, but I can guarantee, they know more about this than most. So if they are saying there are human rights violations in Syria, they are probably right.

And with an absolute blackout of independent news sources, no freedom of the press, etc. I'll stick with the UN, and not what Syria or alternative websites says.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=51646#.VnUR-lKvP9B

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-un-rights-idUSBREA371UM20140408

Sorry man, but you read some really strange new sites. LOL I agree some of what they say is right. But leans towards conspiracy theories.

And of course there's the charges brought by France. Who would not do this unless they were pretty certain they were true:

http://www.france24.com/en/20150930-france-opens-war-crimes-inquiry-assad-regime

[Scott]

Posts with questionable sources have been removed.

The topic is about the UN endorsed peace process. Stay on topic.

[ggt]

Assad, the elephant in the room, was not mentioned because no one knows what to do with him...

World leaders have learned the hard way that disposing of ruthless ME dictators unleashing civil and religious wars among the different tribes and religious sects...wars, chaos and genocide prevail...

Watching ME dictators massacure their own people is unacceptable...removing them and watching the subsequent carnage unfold is even more disturbing...

DELETED

Edited December 19, 2015 by seedy
troll / flaming

[Asiantravel]

Because they've not created a humitarian disaster like this, with 4 million refugees:

http://www.unhcr-northerneurope.org/news-detail/total-number-of-syrian-refugees-exceeds-four-million-for-first-time

Or doing things on a scale like this:

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/12/7000-syrians-tortured-killed-detention-151217084448796.html

Up to 7,000 Syrians tortured or killed in detention New evidence released by a rights group says thousands were tortured or killed in government detention centres in Syria.

yes dreadful but I can’t help wondering if the USA providing weapons to rebels to fight the Syrian government exacerbated the situation?

Probably did! Just like the Russians bombing non IS targets and killing innocent civilians. And then there's the Iranian boots on the ground. Funding by Saudia Arabia. A horrible mess.

But what about the disproportionality between the Syria situation and just say for example the two countries I have mentioned (Eritrea and Saudi Arabia)? Why is the West so obsessed with Syria that it now risks starting world War 3 every day with all these warplanes flying about and yet regarding Saudi Arabia not only does it continue to accept its atrocious human rights record but even sells arms to the Saudis-much to the indignation of Amnesty International?

And when you make reference to the humanitarian plight of Syria as being the reason behind this gigantic effort, don’t you think also that a certain pipeline has also got something to do with this urge for yet another regime change?

Edited December 20, 2015 by Asiantravel

[chilli42]

They are putting the cart before the horse. The issue is ISIS and what they are doing to Syria and Iraq and what they have commenced to do elsewhere - not Assad or who will run Syria in the future. The peace process described here is something that unfold over two years or more. All the while ISIS grows stronger and exports their madness and mayhem. No matter how many bombs are dropped on ISIS held territory the political and military effect will be mainly suffering for the average person caught up in this. Assad is undoubtedly a bad boy but their are lots of bad people running countries that Western governments can live comfortably with. The Syrian army is the only potentially credible military power that can stand up to ISIS and they work for Assad. The UN and Western governments would be better served to set the priority on militarily crushing ISIS by enabling the Syrian army to do the job it should be doing.

[craigt3365]

But what about the disproportionality between the Syria situation and just say for example the two countries I have mentioned (Eritrea and Saudi Arabia)? Why is the West so obsessed with Syria that it now risks starting world War 3 every day with all these warplanes flying about and yet regarding Saudi Arabia not only does it continue to accept its atrocious human rights record but even sells arms to the Saudis-much to the indignation of Amnesty International?

And when you make reference to the humanitarian plight of Syria as being the reason behind this gigantic effort, don’t you think also that a certain pipeline has also got something to do with this urge for yet another regime change?

I'm no expert, but seems to have started with a proxy war between Iran (Shia) and Saudi Arabia/Qatar (Sunni). As you know about Syria, it's run by the Alawites (Shia) but the county is 75% Sunni. Iran is in there converting Sunni schools to Shia. And causing Saudi Arabia and Qatar to get involved. Interesting read:

http://www.todayszaman.com/op-ed_irans-syrian-power-grab-and-saudi-arabia_404785.html

Eritrea is 50% Christian. And not as important to Iran or Saudi Arabia? Turkey is 90% Sunni and thus, involved also. Trying to stop Assad's bombing of the Sunni population there. And stop the creation of a Kurdish state. As you know, Turkey is in a big mess also.

Russia got involved in Syria due to their interests in selling weapons, opening up military bases and stopping the gas pipeline from Qatar to Southern Europe. Which would reduce their choke hold over Europe with regards to natural gas and deprive Russia of much needed revenues.

Too many players involved. A disaster waiting to happen.

Again, I'm no expert!!!! Just wish the proxies would leave Syria alone.