Syria war parties to agree on U.N. basic principles paper: diplomats

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"Basic principles have been laid out. De Mistura wants to announce that all sides have agreed so that he can move on to the transition issue at the next round," said a senior Western diplomat. "It's a baby step, but a necessary step. It's not a bad result."

The diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the document contains 10-12 points ranging from agreeing to a united national army, the need to fight terrorism, and ensuring a democratic non-sectarian state with equal rights for all.

A Middle Eastern and another Western diplomat also said they expected de Mistura to announce broad principles enabling him to move on to the subject of a political settlement

The talks are part of a diplomatic push launched with U.S. and Russian support to end more than five years of war in Syria that has killed more than 250,000 people, created the world's worst refugee crisis and bred the rise of Islamic State.

http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCAKCN0WQ13G


Iraqi, Syrian forces close in on Islamic State-held cities

US providing air support for assault on Mosul as Russians bomb jihadist positions in Palmyra

http://www.timesofisrael.com/iraqi-s...e-held-cities/

Islamic State Losing Ground, But Not the War

Finding it harder to hold territory in both Iraq and Syria, IS extremists are switching tactics, using small-scale, mass-casualty attacks, internationally and regionally.

http://www.voanews.com/content/islam...r/3251750.html

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Re: Syria war parties to agree on U.N. basic principles paper: diplomats

News source Al Arabiya


Russia, Germany urge for ‘united, secular’ Syria

Both Russia and Germany agreed for the need for a united secular Syria inclusive of all of its groups, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Wednesday.

“After all, we agreed in Vienna about this as well, having reinforced the agreement in Munich. We should reach the deal on a united secular state in Syria, in which all the ethnicities could live in peace,” Steinmeier said at the joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News...ar-Syria-.html

And Sputnik

Political Transition to Define Schedule of Syria Elections

The political transition in Syria shall include mechanisms for credible, inclusive and non-sectarian government, a schedule and process for drafting a new constitution and free and fair elections pursuant to the new constitution, administered under supervision by the United Nations, according to draft resolution of the intra-Syrian talks.

http://sputniknews.com/politics/2016...ion-syria.html

We back GCC on Yemen issue: Afghan envoy

Afghanistan reiterated its support to efforts of the UAE and other Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) countries to restore ousted president Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi in Yemen.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Ambassador Abdul Farid Zikria, the new envoy to the UAE, who was appointed for a second time, said: "We support efforts to restore the legitimate government of President Hadi in Yemen and would like to see the start of political process under the United Nation guidance provided by Resolution no 2216."

"We are deeply sadden by the violence perpetrated by Houti militia and their illegal takeover of power, which affected the country badly." Afghanistan suffered the same humanitarian crisis during the Soviet Union invasion.

However, "Afghanistan is a natural ally of every military alliance that is fighting terrorism," he added.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/region/m...e-afghan-envoy

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Re: Syria war parties to agree on U.N. basic principles paper: diplomats

Yemen ceasefire to begin April 10, says UN envoy

Yemen's government and Iranian-backed Houthis agreed on a ceasefire starting April 10 followed by peace talks

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Ne...5#.VvP6fY-cEUA

in jmvho?

What to keep an eye on? The real problem. The dispute between Sunni and Shiite. Attempts at getting them to settle and eventually the dividing up into unions. (Especially as Russia seems to be changing their tactics toward the EU and the US. Another real source of the problems.)Who controls what.

The Revolutionary Guard in Iran are getting worried, but the verbal threats aren't going any where. The threats that would have been big news and dragged out in the media just a few months ago are being dropped quickly.

http://wedg.millenniumweekend.org/fo...ght=iran+guard

There could be a shift being thrashed out????

Hungary !!!!!

Doctor from Yemen wins Hungarians' hearts

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu...Name=worldNews

Hungary!!!!!!!

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Re: Syria war parties to agree on U.N. basic principles paper: diplomats

Kerry vows to work with Moscow for peace in Syria despite differences

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mi...Name=worldNews

I wish I could post the picture above the article it says a lot more then even the article.

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Re: Syria war parties to agree on U.N. basic principles paper: diplomats

The new headline to the article above...

............as Kerry and Putin hail thaw

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in an atmosphere that was noticeably more amiable than past meetings, reflecting new diplomacy the two Cold War superpowers have championed in recent weeks.

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Re: Syria war parties to agree on U.N. basic principles paper: diplomats

Kerry's meeting in Moscow signals easing of rhetoric between U.S. and Russia

On the surface, it seems to have worked. President Vladimir Putin was unusually complimentary of the U.S. role in the Syrian peace initiative

"We are aware that the groundwork we have on Syria could only have been possible thanks to the supreme political leadership of the United State, specifically the position of President Obama," the Russian president said at the start of a four-hour meeting with Kerry.


And the secretary of state left Russia Friday morning with an agreement to speed up the timetable, aiming for a new Syrian draft constitution by August.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/russia-...vrov-1.3507266

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Re: Syria war parties to agree on U.N. basic principles paper: diplomats

All articles below are from Arab media

UAE condemns Brussels attacks

Burj Khalifa lit up in the colours of the Belgium flag on Tuesday night.

Burj Khalifa in colours of Belgium flag in solidarity with victims of Brussels attacks, tweeted Dubai Media Office.

http://www.emirates247.com/news/emir...03-23-1.625034

Kingdom Tower is illuminated with the Belgium national colors

The Kingdom Tower in Riyadh lit up on Wednesday with the colors of the Belgian flag to express Saudi Arabia’s strong condemnation of Tuesday’s terrorist acts in the Belgian capital Brussels, killing and injuring hundreds of innocent people.

This also comes to stress the necessity for the international community to double efforts to uproot this serious scourge targeting the security and stability of the whole world

http://saudigazette.com.sa/saudi-ara...s-flag-colors/

Arab governments express solidarity with Brussels terror victims

Arab countries including Jordan, Bahrain and Egypt condemned the series of seemingly coordinated bombings that ripped through Brussels Airport and a city metro station on Tuesday, killing at least 34 people and wounding dozens.

Jordanian foreign minister Nasser Gouda strongly condemned the attacks and stressed that his government stands in solidarity with Belgium in its fight against terrorism, Jordanian news website Al-Ghad Al-Ordony reported on Tuesday.

"Jordan's position has always been to denounce terrorism, and we stand in solidarity with our friends in Belgium during this difficult time," Gouda said at a press conference, adding that Muslims are also victims of terrorism, and that no one is safe from terrorists.

Belgian authorities said later in the day that the attacks were carried out by suicide bombers.

The Bahraini foreign ministry also expressed solidarity with Belgium in a press release published by the Bahrain News Agency BNA, saying that the country stands with Brussels in the face of all forms of violence, extremism and terrorism.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsCont...Brussels-.aspx

Gulf states denounce Belgium attacks

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) condemned on Tuesday the deadly blasts in Belgium, with Saudi Arabia urging its citizens to postpone their travel to the European country, Al Arabiya News Channel reported.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain are the six countries that make up the GCC.

GCC Secretary General Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani described the attacks as “a horrendous crime” devoid of any “moral and humanitarian principles and values as well as international laws.”

He reiterated GCC’s rejection of “terrorism in all forms,” stressing the Gulf’s support for the Belgian government “in all the legal measures that it takes to tackle such criminal terrorist acts.”

The Syrian opposition, the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), also denounced on Tuesday the attacks that killed at least 28 people after suicide bombings tore through Brussels airport and separate blasts rocked a metro station near EU institutions.

Sunni Islam’s leading seat of learning, Al-Azhar, said Tuesday’s attacks in Brussels “violate the tolerant teachings of Islam,” and urged the international community to confront the “epidemic” of terrorism.

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News...m-attacks.html

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Re: Syria war parties to agree on U.N. basic principles paper: diplomats

From Europe....

Arab League decries Brussels attacks

Delegates from the Arab community have flocked to the Belgian embassy in Cairo in a show of solidarity with Brussels.

http://www.euronews.com/2016/03/24/a...ssels-attacks/