Syria talks focusing on planned 'congress' in Russia 12/22/2017 9:13:46 AM Since the start of Syrias war in 2011, numerous diplomatic attempts to halt the conflict have stumble AFP, DEC. 20, 2017 --The main powerbrokers in Syria's nearly seven-year conflict were heading towards a second day of negotiations in Astana as uncertainly loomed Thursday over a Moscow-driven plan to quickly reach a political settlement. Chief Russian negotiator Aleksandr Lavrentyev told journalists that Russia was forging ahead with plans to host a 'National Dialogue Congress' in the Black Sea resort of Sochi to accelerate discussions over a political deal that have sputtered in Geneva. The  United Nations  ' special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, has refused to say if the UN will back a plan promoted by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad but viewed warily by opponents of his government. Speaking after the first day of talks Thursday, Lavrentyev said...

Tillerson: No future for Assad in Syria 10/26/2017 9:17:01 PM   facebook Google+ ► Print US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in Geneva that he hopes that a mechanism to remove Syrias Bashar al-Assad from power will emerge as part of a UN peace process GENEVA, AFP, 26 October 2017   - US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson declared Thursday that Bashar al-Assad has no future as leader of Syria and will have to leave office as part of a UN-mediated peace process. Tillerson's comments to reporters came during a visit to Geneva in which he met UN envoy Staffan de Mistura, who is trying to convene a new round of peace talks next month. The secretary said US policy has not changed, but his remarks represented tougher language from an administration that had previously said Assad's fate is not a priority. 'We do not believe there is a future for the Assad regime, the Assad family,' Tillerson said. 'I think I've said it on...