UN Security Council endorses roadmap for Syria peace process
United Nations, Dec 19: The UN Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution endorsing an international roadmap for a Syrian-led political transition in order to end the country's conflict, which calls for Syria peace talks to begin in early January. The unanimously-adopted resolution also calls for 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 a political transition under UN auspices", Xinhua reported. The 15-nation council expressed its support for statements agreed during previous talks in Geneva, Switzerland, and Vienna, Austria, while stressing that "the Syrian people will decide the future of Syria". "The only sustainable solution to the current crisis in Syria is through an inclusive and Syrian-led political process that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people," it said. Friday's Security Council meeting was chaired by US Secretary of State John Kerry, as the US holds the council's rotating presidency for the month of December. Kerry said after the vote that the resolution has sent a clear message that "the time is now to stop the killing in Syria". The resolution has requested UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to convene representatives of the Syrian government and the opposition for peace talks "on an urgent basis," and also to determine the requirements and modalities of a ceasefire, which are also stated in Geneva and Vienna documents.
