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| John Kerry says several proposals on table for partial Syria truce | John Kerry says several proposals on table for partial Syria truce |
| (4 months later) | |
| John Kerry has said several proposals aimed at finding a way to restore at least a partial truce in Syria are being discussed, as attacks on the city of Aleppo continue. | John Kerry has said several proposals aimed at finding a way to restore at least a partial truce in Syria are being discussed, as attacks on the city of Aleppo continue. |
| The US secretary of state met Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, and the UN envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, on Monday. He said progress was being made towards an understanding on how to reduce the violence in Aleppo, but that more work was needed. | The US secretary of state met Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, and the UN envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, on Monday. He said progress was being made towards an understanding on how to reduce the violence in Aleppo, but that more work was needed. |
| “There are several proposals that are now going back to key players to sign off,” Kerry said after meeting De Mistura. We are hopeful but we are not there yet … we are going to work very hard in the next 24 hours, 48 hours to get there.” | “There are several proposals that are now going back to key players to sign off,” Kerry said after meeting De Mistura. We are hopeful but we are not there yet … we are going to work very hard in the next 24 hours, 48 hours to get there.” |
| He did not say what the proposals were, adding that he would phone Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, later on Monday and that De Mistura would go to Moscow on Tuesday for talks. | He did not say what the proposals were, adding that he would phone Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, later on Monday and that De Mistura would go to Moscow on Tuesday for talks. |
| He said the US and Russia have agreed that there would be additional personnel dedicated to making sure there was more accountability and ability to enforce the cessation of hostilities on a day-to-day basis. | He said the US and Russia have agreed that there would be additional personnel dedicated to making sure there was more accountability and ability to enforce the cessation of hostilities on a day-to-day basis. |
| For Aleppo, the US is considering drawing up a detailed map with Moscow that would lay out “safe zones” where civilians and members of moderate opposition groups covered by the truce could find shelter from persistent attacks by the Syrian military, which claims to be targeting terrorists. | For Aleppo, the US is considering drawing up a detailed map with Moscow that would lay out “safe zones” where civilians and members of moderate opposition groups covered by the truce could find shelter from persistent attacks by the Syrian military, which claims to be targeting terrorists. |
| One US official said “hard lines” would delineate specific areas and neighbourhoods. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly. | One US official said “hard lines” would delineate specific areas and neighbourhoods. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly. |
| It was not immediately clear whether Russia would accept such a plan or if it would be able to persuade Bashar al-Assad’s government to respect the prospective zones. Some US officials are skeptical of the chances for success, but also note that it is worth a try to at least reduce the violence. | It was not immediately clear whether Russia would accept such a plan or if it would be able to persuade Bashar al-Assad’s government to respect the prospective zones. Some US officials are skeptical of the chances for success, but also note that it is worth a try to at least reduce the violence. |
| They also say the safe areas would not be no-fly zones per se, but details such as locations have not yet been agreed. | They also say the safe areas would not be no-fly zones per se, but details such as locations have not yet been agreed. |
| Earlier, Jubeir called the situation in Aleppo an outrage and a criminal violation of humanitarian law. He said Assad would be held accountable for the attacks and removed from power either through a political process or by force. | Earlier, Jubeir called the situation in Aleppo an outrage and a criminal violation of humanitarian law. He said Assad would be held accountable for the attacks and removed from power either through a political process or by force. |
| “There is only one side that is flying airplanes, and that is Bashar al-Assad and his allies, so they are responsible for the massacre of women, children, and the elderly,” he said. “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.” | “There is only one side that is flying airplanes, and that is Bashar al-Assad and his allies, so they are responsible for the massacre of women, children, and the elderly,” he said. “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’s meetings in Geneva came as Syria’s state news agency said the military had extended its ceasefire around Damascus and opposition strongholds in the eastern suburbs for another 48 hours. It said the cessation of hostilities was declared on Friday around the capital and the coastal Latakia region after two weeks of escalating violence. | Kerry’s meetings in Geneva came as Syria’s state news agency said the military had extended its ceasefire around Damascus and opposition strongholds in the eastern suburbs for another 48 hours. It said the cessation of hostilities was declared on Friday around the capital and the coastal Latakia region after two weeks of escalating violence. |
| It excludes Aleppo, however, where more than 250 people have died in shelling and airstrikes over the last nine days, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. | It excludes Aleppo, however, where more than 250 people have died in shelling and airstrikes over the last nine days, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. |
| Russia’s Tass news agency, meanwhile, quoted General Sergei Kuralenko, the head of the Russian coordination centre in Syria, as saying that talks were continuing about a ceasefire for Aleppo. | Russia’s Tass news agency, meanwhile, quoted General Sergei Kuralenko, the head of the Russian coordination centre in Syria, as saying that talks were continuing about a ceasefire for Aleppo. |