USA and Russia achieve clarity for path on Syria

US Secretary of State John Kerry says he and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov “have achieved clarity on the path forward” in Syria, but have “narrow issues” to resolve.

The two held talks in Geneva to try to find a way of reviving a cessation of hostilities that faltered months ago.

Mr Kerry said they were close, but would not rush into an agreement.

The talks come as the Damascus suburb of Darayya was evacuated after a four-year siege by the government.

After meeting for nearly 10 hours, Mr Kerry said the “vast majority” of technical discussions had been completed, adding that experts would remain in Geneva to work on the unresolved steps in the coming days.

He stressed that the only way to solve the conflict was through political agreement.

Political solution

“We want to have something done that is effective and that works for the people of Syria, that makes the region more stable and secure, and that brings us to the table here in Geneva to find a political solution,” he said.

Mr Kerry reminded journalists of the image, widely shared on social media, of a five-year-old boy sitting dazed in an ambulance after an air strike in Aleppo, saying “that image needs to motivate all of us, to get the job done”.

Mr Kerry said the Syrian government, with the help of its allies including Russia, continued to breach the terms of an existing cessation of hostilities agreement.

“Aleppo continues to be besieged and bombarded by the regime and its allies, including Iran, Russia and Hezbollah, and the regime just today forced the surrender of Darayya after a brutal four years of siege,” he said.

He was speaking hours after the first buses left Darayya, accompanied by ambulances and Red Crescent vehicles.

The UN has expressed concern over the plan, saying it is essential that those leaving do so voluntarily.

Source: BBC