Posts
From
Mark Sleboda in Moscow -
Kerry:
We are not seeking so-called regime change in #Syria
We have never been seeking so called regime change in #Syria.
We have never been seeking so called regime change in #Syria.
Untold billions of dollars, 250k+lives &
devastated Syria later
Dec 15,
2015 #AssadHesCoolHeShouldStayForTeaAndCookies
Do
you believe this about face, this ultimate flip-flop from Kerry?
Cause I don't.
Beware of Americans bearing gifts.
No 'regime change' in Syria: After talks in Moscow, Kerry accepts Russian stance on Assad
Fox News,
15
December, 2015
MOSCOW
– U.S. Secretary of State John
Kerry on Tuesday accepted Russia's long-standing demand that
President Bashar Assad's future be determined by his own people, as
Washington and Moscow edged toward putting aside years of
disagreement over how to end Syria's civil war.
"The
United States and our partners are not seeking so-called regime
change," Kerry told reporters in the Russian capital after
meeting President Vladimir Putin. A major international conference on
Syria would take place later this week in New York, Kerry announced.
Kerry
reiterated the U.S. position that Assad, accused by the West of
massive human rights violations and chemical weapons attacks, won't
be able to steer Syria out of 4 ½ years of conflict.
But
after a day of discussions with Assad's key international backer,
Kerry said the focus now is "not on our differences about what
can or cannot be done immediately about Assad." Rather, it is on
facilitating a peace process in which "Syrians will be making
decisions for the future of Syria."
Kerry's
declarations crystallized the evolution in U.S. policy on Assad over
the last several months, as the Islamic State group's growing
influence in the Middle East has taken priority.
President
Barack Obama first called on Assad to leave power in the summer of
2011, with "Assad must go," being a consistent rallying
cry. Later, American officials allowed that he wouldn't have to
resign on "Day One" of a transition. Now, Assad's stay
could be indefinite.
Russia,
by contrast, has remained consistent in its view that no foreign
government could demand Assad's departure and that Syrians would have
to negotiate matters of leadership among themselves. Since late
September, it has been bombing terrorist and rebel targets in Syria
as part of what the West says is an effort to prop up Assad's
government.
Kerry
said, "No one should be forced to choose between a dictator and
being plagued by terrorists." However, he described the Syrian
opposition's demand that Assad must leave as soon as peace talks
begin as a "nonstarting position, obviously."
Earlier
Tuesday in the Kremlin, Putin noted several "outstanding issues"
between Russia and its former Cold War foe. Beyond Assad, these
include which rebel groups in Syria should be allowed to participate
in the transition process and which should be deemed terrorists, and
like the Islamic State group and al-Qaida, be combatted by all.
Jordan
is working on finalizing the list of terrorist v. legitimate
opposition forces. Representatives of Syria's opposition themselves
hope this week to finalize their negotiating team for talks with
Assad's government. The U.S., Russia and others hope those talks will
begin early next year.
Appearing
beside Kerry, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov hailed what he
described as a "big negotiating day," saying the sides
advanced efforts to define what a Syrian transition process might
look like.
The
two countries also have split on Ukraine since Russia's annexation of
the Crimea region last year and its ongoing, though diminished,
support for separatist rebels in the east of the country. The U.S.
has pressed severe economic sanctions against Russia in response and
has insisted that Moscow's actions have left it isolated.
But
Kerry sang a different tune on Tuesday.
"We
don't seek to isolate Russia as a matter of policy, no," Kerry
said. The sooner Russia implements a February cease-fire that calls
for withdrawal of Russian forces and materiel and a release of all
prisoners, he said, the sooner that "sanctions can be rolled
back."
The
world is better off when Russia and the U.S. work together, he added,
calling Obama and Putin's current cooperation a "sign of
maturity."
"There
is no policy of the United States, per se, to isolate Russia,"
Kerry stressed.
Kerry in Moscow: US accepts Russian demands on future of Syria
15
December, 2015
AP
reports:
MOSCOW
(AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday accepted
Russia’s long-standing demand that President Bashar Assad’s
future be determined by his own people […]
The
United States and our partners are not seeking so-called regime
change,” Kerry told reporters in the Russian capital after meeting
President Vladimir Putin. […]
Kerry’s
declarations crystallized the evolution in U.S. policy on Assad over
the last several months, as the Islamic State group’s growing
influence in the Middle East has taken priority.
President
Barack Obama first called on Assad to leave power in the summer of
2011, with “Assad must go,” being a consistent rallying cry.
Later, American officials allowed that he wouldn’t have to resign
on “Day One” of a transition. Now, Assad’s stay could be
indefinite.
Russia,
by contrast, has remained consistent in its view that no foreign
government could demand Assad’s departure and that Syrians would
have to negotiate matters of leadership among themselves. […]
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