Secretary of State John Kerry insisted Monday that the prospect of a real cease-fire in Syria is “closer,” but had no timetable for when hostilities might end and political talks for peace might begin in earnest.
“We’re getting closer to a place of understanding,” Kerry said at the start of a meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir in Geneva. “But we have some work to do, and that’s why we’re here.”
The goal is to renew and revamp U.N.-led peace talks brokered by the U.S. and Russia on Feb. 27 by including the Syrian city of Aleppo in the ceasefire. The temporary “regime of calm” introduced by the Syrian government Friday only included an area around Damascus and Latakia province — even though violence has been escalating in Aleppo.
Jubeir called the escalation of fighting in Aleppo as a “violation of all humanitarian laws” and blamed airstrikes on Aleppo on Syrian President Bashar Assad and government forces.
“He can leave through a political process, which we hope he will do, or he will be removed by force,” Jubeir said in calling for Assad to step down. “There is only one side that is flying airplanes, and that is Bashar Assad and his allies, so they are responsible for the massacre of women, children, and the elderly. They are responsible for the murder of doctors and medical personnel, and this situation, any way you slice it, will not stand. The world is not going to allow them to get away with this.”
Kerry will meet U.N. envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura later Monday before returning to Washington, D.C.
