Syria peace talks in Vienna
| Syria peace talks | |
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| Status | Ongoing |
| Genre | Foreign powers' negotiations aiming on peace in Syria |
| Location(s) | Vienna |
| Country | Austria |
| Attendance | |
| Part of a series on the Syrian Civil War |
| Syrian peace process |
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History |
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Secondary concerns |
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International brokers |
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Proposals
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The Syria peace talks, also known as the Vienna Process,[1] was a phase of international negotiations to resolve the conflict in Syria that began in an expanded format at the level of foreign ministers in Vienna, Austria, on 30 October 2015.
The participants, since the 14 November 2015 meeting, are known as the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), which consists of 17 countries and three organisations: China, Egypt, France, Germany, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States; the Arab League, the European Union, and the United Nations.[2] Neither the government of Syria, nor the Syrian opposition took part in the talks. Australia, despite being a member of the American-led coalition in Syria, was excluded from the talks pursuant to Russia's objection to Australia's as well as Japan's participation.[3] Iran′s participation was the first time the country was involved in international Syrian peace negotiations.[4][5][6]
The joint statements on the outcome of the talks on Syria in Vienna of 30 October 2015 and of 14 November 2015 are referred to by the subsequent UN documents as the "Vienna Statements".[7]
Background, preparatory talks
Western media claimed that the Russian air strikes that had begun in Syria on 30 September 2015 had tipped the balance of power on the Syrian battlefield between government and opposition in president Assad's favor, thus upending the strategy of the U.S., oppositional groups backed by the U.S. and European allies to drive Assad out of power.[6]
On 23 October 2015, John Kerry of the U.S., Sergey Lavrov of Russia, Adel al-Jubeir of Saudi Arabia, and Feridun Sinirlioğlu of Turkey met in Vienna and agreed to hold a broader meeting on Syria on 30 October;[6][5][8] Lavrov said afterwards he hoped that Iran and Egypt would be invited.[6]
While both Jubeir and Kerry acknowledged differences with Russia and Iran over the future of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, Kerry expressed hope that once ″a political process″ was started a solution might be found.[6]
On 29 October 2015, the foreign ministers of the U.S., Russia, Turkey and Saudi Arabia met in Vienna to further prepare the talks of 30 October.[9]
John Kerry also had meetings with his Austrian counterpart Sebastian Kurz, the UN envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, as well as Mohammad Javad Zarif of Iran, Sergey Lavrov, Jubeir, and Sinirlioğlu.[10][11] Also on 29 October, Mohammad Javad Zarif of Iran had a bilateral meeting with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini.[12]
The 30 October 2015 round
Participants
Participating in the 30 October Vienna talks were: the US, UK, Russia, Iran, Turkey, China, Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Lebanon, Jordan, France, Italy, Germany as well as the European Union, and the United Nations.[13][5] Iran took part in international Syrian peace negotiations for the first time;[14] the offer of inviting Iran had been made by Russia and initially met resistance on the part of the United States[5] and Saudi Arabia.[15][16] No Syrian representative was invited to participate.[9]
Discussions
The purpose of the meeting was to look for a plan to convince Syria’s government and rebels to agree to a national cease-fire and a process of political transition.[10]
Western media claimed though, that determining Syrian president Assad’s future, including what powers he could maintain during a political transition and whether he can compete in a future presidential election, seemed a necessary first step to be taken before any other agreement between the conflicting Syrian parties would be reachable.[10]
The ministers participating in the talks signed a joint statement: Final declaration on the results of the Syria Talks in Vienna as agreed by participants, which among other things stated that "Syria's unity, independence, territorial integrity and secular character are fundamental".[17][4] The participants agreed to ask the United Nations to convene Syria's government and opposition to start a "a political process leading to credible, inclusive, non-sectarian governance, followed by a new constitution and elections" to be administered under UN supervision;[17] but they disagreed over Bashar Assad's role.[4][18]
Aftermath
Shortly after the talks in Vienna on 30 October 2015, Saudi Arabian and Iranian officials exchanged sharp rebukes that questioned future participation of Iran in the next round of talks.[16][19]
Working groups that convened, on the initiative of the US, in the run-up to the 14 November round of talks reflected tensions between Russia and the US over the leadership role allegedly assumed by the US,[20] the very idea of such groups being criticised by Russia.[21]
The 14 November 2015 meeting
On 14 November 2015, against the backdrop of a series of terror attacks in Paris, France,[22] the Vienna talks, involving among others Iran,[23] resumed in Vienna, and lasted for over 5 hours.[24][25]
The ISSG:
- stated their commitment to ensure a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political transition based on the 2012 Geneva Communique in its entirety;
- agreed to support and work to implement a nationwide ceasefire in Syria to come into effect as soon as the representatives of the Syrian government and the opposition have begun initial steps towards the transition under UN auspices on the basis of the Geneva Communique;
- agreed on the need to convene Syrian government and opposition representatives in formal negotiations under UN auspices with a target date of 1 January 2016;[2]
- assigned UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, to decide who should represent the opposition in those negotiations;[26]
- reiterated that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Da'esh) as well as the Jabhat al-Nusra Front, and "other terrorist groups, as designated by the UN Security Council, and further, as agreed by the participants and endorsed by the UN Security Council, must be defeated";[2]
- gave Jordan the charge "to help develop among intelligence and military community representatives a common understanding of groups and individuals for possible determination as terrorists, with a target of completion by the beginning of the political process under UN auspices".[2]
UN endorsement
After John Kerry visited Moscow where he met his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov as well as Vladimir Putin on 15 December 2015,[27] it was announced that on 18 December 2015 world powers would meet in New York to pass a UN resolution endorsing the principles of the Vienna process.[28]
On 18 December 2015, the UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution endorsing the ISSG′s transitional plan of 30 October and 14 November (see above); the resolution acknowledged the "role of the ISSG as the central platform to facilitate the United Nations’ efforts to achieve a lasting political settlement in Syria".[7] The major powers remained divided on who should represent the Syrian opposition; no mention was made of the future role of Syrian President Bashar Assad.[29][30]
Aftermath: Geneva Syrian peace talks
On 1 February 2016, the United Nations announced the formal start of UN-mediated peace talks for Syria in Geneva.[31]
See also
References
- ↑ "After Paris, Syria's peace process limps on". The Economist. 17 November 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 "Statement of the International Syria Support Group". Official website of the European Union. 14 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
- ↑ "Australia excluded from Syria peace talks after Russian objection". The Guardian. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
- 1 2 3 "Syria conflict: World powers to intensify quest for peace". BBC. 30 October 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 "After a U.S. Shift, Iran Has a Seat at Talks on War in Syria". New York Times. 29 October 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Kerry sees new Syria talks next week, does not rule out Iran role". Reuters. 23 October 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- 1 2 "Security Council Unanimously Adopts Resolution 2254 (2015), Endorsing Road Map for Peace Process in Syria, Setting Timetable for Talks". The UN website. 18 December 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
- ↑ Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 24 October 2015.
- 1 2 "U.S., Russia, Turkey, and Saudi meet on Syria war". Al Arabiya. 29 October 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- 1 2 3 "Kerry in Vienna for Syria talks including Iran, Saudis". Businessinsider. 29 October 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
- ↑ "Syria conflict: Saudis say Iran must accept Assad exit". BBC. 29 October 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
- ↑ "European Union - EEAS (European External Action Service) - Remarks of the HR/VP Federica Mogherini following her meeting with Iran Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, Vienna". europa.eu.
- ↑ "Syrien-Konferenz in Wien: Washington schließt den Iran nicht mehr aus". handelsblatt.com. 28 October 2015.
- ↑ "Arch-rivals Saudi Arabia, Iran to discuss Syria face-to-face for first time". Reuters. 28 October 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
- ↑ "On Eve of Syria Peace Talks, Saudi Arabia Questions Russian, Iranian Intentions". U.S. News and World Report. 29 October 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
- 1 2 "Iran says may quit Syria talks, in worsening spat with Saudi rival". Reuters. 2 November 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
- 1 2 "Final declaration on the results of the Syria Talks in Vienna as agreed by participants". Official website of the European Union. 30 October 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
- ↑ "Powers attending Syria talks urge truce, U.N.-backed talks". Reuters.
- ↑ "Iran hints at quitting Syria talks amid spat with Saudi Arabia". DW.COM.
- ↑ "Russia accuses US of hijacking meetings to prepare for Syria talks, US says Moscow didn't show". U.S. News. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ↑ "‘Are you really journalists?’ Moscow slams Reuters for biased bombshell on Syria". RT. 13 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ↑ "Syria talks begin in Vienna under pall of Paris attacks". The Daily Mail. 14 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ↑ "Могерини назвала эффективным началом переговоры по Сирии в Вене". RIA Novosti. 14 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ↑ "Очередные переговоры по Сирии в Вене продолжались более пяти часов". RIA Novosti. 14 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ↑ "Diplomats Gather in Vienna for Syria Talks". The Wall Street Journal. 14 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ↑ "Diplomats set plan for political change in Syria". The Daily Mail. 14 November 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
- ↑ "Putin Meets With U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Talk Syria". The MoscowTimes. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
- ↑ "Syria conflict: US and Russia signal new push at UN". BBC. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
- ↑ "U.N. endorses Syria peace plan in rare show of unity among big powers". Reuters. 19 December 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
- ↑ "Differences remain as key sides meet for Syria talks". Aljazeera. 18 December 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
- ↑ "U.N. announces start of Syria peace talks as government troops advance". Reuters. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
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