https://lobelog.com/syrian-peace-talks-need-to-focus-on-governance/#more-31905

Syrian Peace Talks Need to Focus on Governance

by Derek Davison
With a second round of international talks on finding an end to Syria’s civil war taking place in Vienna on Saturday, Secretary of State John Kerry discussed his approach to the negotiations in an address to the U.S. Institute of Peace on Thursday. Cautioning that “I cannot say this afternoon that we are on the threshold of a comprehensive agreement,” Kerry nonetheless lauded the progress that the Vienna talks made in just their first round, held last month:

Now, this possibility was the focus of meetings in Vienna at the end of last month, meetings that for the first time brought together all the key international interested parties to the very same table. And guess what? It came out with a product. That session produced a communique endorsed by every country who attended—countries that don’t always agree on much—like Saudi Arabia and Iran—but who do agree that Daesh is evil and that the war in Syria must be brought to an acceptable end as soon as possible.

Kerry said that all parties to the talks agreed on maintaining Syria’s “unity, independence, territorial integrity, and pluralistic character,” on the importance of defeating the Islamic State, on protecting “the rights of all Syrians, regardless of ethnicity or religious denomination,” on the need to increase humanitarian support, especially for Syria’s displaced persons and refugees, and on transitioning Syria “to a credible, inclusive, non-sectarian” form of government, including a new constitution and “free and fair, transparent, accountable elections.” Considering that the Vienna talks involved 19 participants—including the European Union and the United Nations (though, ironically, not including any Syrians), some of whom do have substantial disagreements with one another—even establishing this very general framework represents significant progress.https://lobelog.com/syrian-peace-talks-need-to-focus-on-governance/#more-31905