Syrian President Must Go, Says Kerry
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says the continued violence plaguing Syria is
further evidence that President Bashar al-Assad needs to leave
office.
Speaking in London on Monday following a meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague, Kerry said the U.S. condemns the "indiscriminate killing" in "the strongest terms."
Speaking alongside Kerry, Hague called for increased support for Syria's opposition, saying that "our policy cannot be static" in the face of the violence. Hague said that in the coming weeks Britain would be pushing for a new package of assistance to support the opposition Syrian National Coalition.
The comments come as the coalition is considering boycotting the next Friends of Syria meeting in Rome on Thursday because it says the international community is not doing enough to end the violence.
In recent weeks, both Syria’s government and the opposition have suggested they are ready for talks to end the war, in stark contrast to previous statements.
On Monday in Moscow, Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said that the Syrian government is open to dialogue with those who want to take part.
"We are ready for dialogue with everyone who wants it...even with those who have weapons in their hands," Russia’s Itar-Tass news agency quoted him as saying. "We believe that reforms will not come through bloodshed but only through dialogue.”
Moallem reportedly made the comment before meeting with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
In Cairo, the head of the Syrian National Coalition, Moaz al-Khatib, told reporters he wants to hear clearly from the government.
He said the opposition grouping has not yet communicated with the Syrian government and is waiting to do so to see what will happen. Al-Khatib also said opposition visits to the United Sates and Russia are being delayed.
Moscow has been seen as the linchpin to resolving Syria’s nearly two-year civil war. The Kremlin has refused to back three rounds of United Nations Security Council resolutions against Syria, saying that dialogue with both sides of the conflict is necessary for peace and that it is not the job of any agency to force the ouster of any government.
Moscow also continues to sell arms to the Syrian government, maintaining it is not violating international law and that none of the weapons can be used in a civil conflict. Western leaders and Syria’s opposition say Russia’s stance on Syria is merely fueling the bloodshed that has killed an estimated 70,000 people.
fuente: La Voz de América, http://www.voanews.com/content/kerry-warns-iran-and-syria/1610276.html
Speaking in London on Monday following a meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague, Kerry said the U.S. condemns the "indiscriminate killing" in "the strongest terms."
Speaking alongside Kerry, Hague called for increased support for Syria's opposition, saying that "our policy cannot be static" in the face of the violence. Hague said that in the coming weeks Britain would be pushing for a new package of assistance to support the opposition Syrian National Coalition.
The comments come as the coalition is considering boycotting the next Friends of Syria meeting in Rome on Thursday because it says the international community is not doing enough to end the violence.
In recent weeks, both Syria’s government and the opposition have suggested they are ready for talks to end the war, in stark contrast to previous statements.
On Monday in Moscow, Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said that the Syrian government is open to dialogue with those who want to take part.
"We are ready for dialogue with everyone who wants it...even with those who have weapons in their hands," Russia’s Itar-Tass news agency quoted him as saying. "We believe that reforms will not come through bloodshed but only through dialogue.”
Moallem reportedly made the comment before meeting with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
In Cairo, the head of the Syrian National Coalition, Moaz al-Khatib, told reporters he wants to hear clearly from the government.
He said the opposition grouping has not yet communicated with the Syrian government and is waiting to do so to see what will happen. Al-Khatib also said opposition visits to the United Sates and Russia are being delayed.
Moscow has been seen as the linchpin to resolving Syria’s nearly two-year civil war. The Kremlin has refused to back three rounds of United Nations Security Council resolutions against Syria, saying that dialogue with both sides of the conflict is necessary for peace and that it is not the job of any agency to force the ouster of any government.
Moscow also continues to sell arms to the Syrian government, maintaining it is not violating international law and that none of the weapons can be used in a civil conflict. Western leaders and Syria’s opposition say Russia’s stance on Syria is merely fueling the bloodshed that has killed an estimated 70,000 people.
fuente: La Voz de América, http://www.voanews.com/content/kerry-warns-iran-and-syria/1610276.html
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