Saudi Arabia‘s Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir has suggested it’s time for “alternatives” to be considered in the Syrian war.
Considering the recent International Syria Support Group [ISSG] meeting held in Vienna with no clear-cut breakthrough to ending the Syrian conflict, Adel al-Jubeir believes it is time for action.
Image shows Saudi Arabia‘s Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir.
As countries and international organizations share varied opinions on the best way to restore peace in the wore-torn country, Saudi’s Foreign Minister did not mince words in his accusation that the regime lacks respect for international agreements. He told reporters:
“We are considering alternative solutions, including ramping up military aid to rebels if the Assad government continues to violate the ceasefire.
“We have been thinking we should move towards this alternative plan for a while,” he added.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a brief meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister to the ongoing crisis.
Image shows U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
A report quotes Kerry and Lavrov as saying they had agreed to bolster the shaky ceasefire. However, the real problem lies in the disagreement between Washington and Moscow on the best way to handle the situation.
Since both sides in the Syrian war have failed to comply with ceasefire agreements, the United Nations says it cannot name a specific date for renewed peace talks.
UN envoy Staffan de Mistura informed in a statement that he could not invite Syrian President Bashar al-Assad‘s regime and the Syrian opposition back to peace negotiations without a “credible” ceasefire.
Image source: The New Arab.
John Kerry revealed in his statement that the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) had agreed to stand against parties breaching the truce and vowed it will maintain pressure on Assad.
Sergei Lavrov reconfirmed Russia’s position in the war. The statement issued on the peace talks says, “Assad’s army is the best placed local faction to fight the (ISIS) and that Moscow would support it.”
It has been widely circulated that divisions between the Oval office and Kremlin have posed serious obstacles to efforts made towards reaching an agreement on the best framework under which Syria would transition away from Assad’s rule.