US Secretary of State John Kerry has said that Iran could still play a helpful role in finding a solution to the conflict in Syria even on the sidelines of peace talks in Geneva later this month.
On Sunday, Kerry said it would be difficult to see how Iran, which did not support last year's international accord on Syria, could be a "ministerial partner" in the Geneva 2 talks, which are due to begin on January 22.
But at a news conference during a visit to Israel, he held out the possibility of Iran playing a constructive role on the sidelines even if it was not a formal participant.
"Now could they contribute from the sidelines? Are their ways for them, conceivably, to weigh in? Can their mission that is already in Geneva ... be there in order to help the process? It may be that there are ways that could happen," Kerry said.
Iran is the main backer, along with Russia, of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a conflict that has lasted more than two years, killed more than 100,000 people and uprooted millions more.
Tehran's participation in the peace talks would likely strengthen any agreement reached in Geneva, and Iran has said it was prepared to take part if invited.
But Washington has opposed Iran's attendance because it has not signed on to a core element of the so-called "Geneva 1" framework.
This says a future Syrian government must be formed by "mutual consent" of the authorities and the opposition, a stance the United States says means Assad cannot stay in power.
Read more: US: Iran can help in Geneva talks on Syria - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
On Sunday, Kerry said it would be difficult to see how Iran, which did not support last year's international accord on Syria, could be a "ministerial partner" in the Geneva 2 talks, which are due to begin on January 22.
But at a news conference during a visit to Israel, he held out the possibility of Iran playing a constructive role on the sidelines even if it was not a formal participant.
"Now could they contribute from the sidelines? Are their ways for them, conceivably, to weigh in? Can their mission that is already in Geneva ... be there in order to help the process? It may be that there are ways that could happen," Kerry said.
Iran is the main backer, along with Russia, of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a conflict that has lasted more than two years, killed more than 100,000 people and uprooted millions more.
Tehran's participation in the peace talks would likely strengthen any agreement reached in Geneva, and Iran has said it was prepared to take part if invited.
But Washington has opposed Iran's attendance because it has not signed on to a core element of the so-called "Geneva 1" framework.
This says a future Syrian government must be formed by "mutual consent" of the authorities and the opposition, a stance the United States says means Assad cannot stay in power.
Read more: US: Iran can help in Geneva talks on Syria - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
No comments:
Post a Comment