Kerry: US hopes for progress in securing Syrian ceasefire in coming days

10:34, 9 February, 2016

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will push to secure an immediate Syrian ceasefire and aid for civilians ahead of a crucial meeting in Munich this week as he seeks to keep a fragile peace process alive, “Armenpress” reports, citing Reuters.

Kerry's approach is aimed at giving the opposition enough breathing space so that they come back to the negotiating table following the suspension of peace talks in Geneva.

"Kerry believes that if we can get a ceasefire in place and more aid delivered, other diplomatic progress is possible," a senior U.S. administration official said.

 "It's hard to get dialogue going when people are being killed and starved to death."

The success or failure of Kerry’s diplomacy in coming weeks could determine whether U.S-backed opposition groups become part of a negotiated settlement for Syria or whether those militias will face collapse, potentially joining a stream of refugees or extreme elements like the Islamic State, analysts say.

 


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