Hopes rekindled of diplomatic progress on Syria conflict

SBS World News Radio: The United States says it remains hopeful of announcing plans for military cooperation and intelligence-sharing with Russia on Syria within the next few weeks.

Hopes rekindled of diplomatic progress on Syria conflict

Hopes rekindled of diplomatic progress on Syria conflict

The United Nations' special envoy to Syria says he's also aiming to convene a new round of Syrian peace talks toward the end of August.

International talks aiming to resolve the conflict in Syrian broke down four months ago.

Since then the fighting has continued and civilians remain caught in the middle.

The Syrian military has released vision showing heavy fighting with opposition forces in Aleppo, tightening the siege on rebel-held parts of a city where more than 300,000 people live.

London-based rights group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says at least 25 people, including women and children, were killed in 24 hours when their neighbourhood was hit by barrel bombs dropped from helicopters.

But now there are renewed attempts to get the various parties and world powers around the negotiating table again.

Following talks with his Russian counterpart at the ASEAN summit in Laos, US Secretary of State John Kerry revealed a breakthrough could finally be reached in early August.

"In simple terms, what everybody know we're trying to do is strengthen the cessation of hostilities, provide a framework that allows us to actually get to the table and have a real negotiation and try to move forward here. We had a good meeting today but we have more homework coming out of today's meeting, and we're going to do it, and do it quietly with the same spirit that we've made the progress of the last week or so in."

The proposals would have Russia and the US share intelligence to coordinate air strikes against the al Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front.

It would also prohibit the Syrian air force from attacking rebel groups labelled as moderate.

In Geneva, the United Nations' special envoy to Syria, Staffan De Mistura, emerged from his own meeting with Russian and US diplomats.

He remains hopeful the two countries will make concrete and visible progress in the lead-up to a new round of peace talks he aims to convene at the end of August.

"This will indeed create the right atmosphere both on the ground and for the intra-Syrian talks. This is not a precondition, but we all know and we all agree that such steps, if they take place - and we strongly hope so - will have indeed a strong positive effect on the environment surrounding the talks."

By announcing these new talks Mr de Mistura has quietly scrapped an August 1 deadline for all sides to agree on a framework for a political transition in Syria.

And Mr Kerry's announcement comes despite deep scepticism among top US military and intelligence officials about working with Russia.

Russia's military intervention last year helped Syrian President Bashar al-Assad change the course of the conflict as his government was losing ground to rebel fighters.

As the United Nations works to rebuild diplomatic bridges, its Development Program (UNDP) has been trying to rebuild entire neighbourhoods in Syria.

In the city of Homs, the UNDP has been removing rubble and funding small businesses to re-open their stores in the hope it will encourage more people to return home.

Shop owner Mouayad Tarsheh has been back for nine months and hopes others will follow his lead.

"The trade movement is still light, but by re-opening our shops we encourage other people to open. Here nine shops are open, and we want more owners to do the same."

 






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Published 27 July 2016 11:00am

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