02:58Russia: Kerry says US not trying to bring about regime change in Syria
US Secretary of State John Kerry said that Washington was not trying to bring about a regime change in Syria during an interview with Russian journalist Sergei Brilev in Moscow, Tuesday.
"We are not trying to do a regime change, we are not engaged in a colour revolution, we are not engaged in trying to interfere in another country," Kerry stated, adding that the US was only interested in bringing about peace.
The US' top diplomat went on to say that the conflict in Syria cannot be stopped while Syrian President Bashar al-Assad remains in power. "Russia can’t stop the war with Assad there because Assad attracts the foreign fighters, Assad is a magnet for terrorists because they are coming to fight Assad," Kerry claimed.
Discussing ways in which he could see government forces joining with opposition groups to fight the so-called Islamic State (IS, ISIS, ISIL), Kerry said that it could happen "provided there is a legitimate transitional process, which the Geneva communique calls for, with a government of transition, where the opposition is part of the government and the issue of Assad will be resolved through that process and people have confidence in that." However, Kerry made clear that this could only work "providing Assad is not the long-term future of Syria."
Kerry travelled to Moscow on Tuesday to discuss the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine with Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
02:58US Secretary of State John Kerry said that Washington was not trying to bring about a regime change in Syria during an interview with Russian journalist Sergei Brilev in Moscow, Tuesday.
"We are not trying to do a regime change, we are not engaged in a colour revolution, we are not engaged in trying to interfere in another country," Kerry stated, adding that the US was only interested in bringing about peace.
The US' top diplomat went on to say that the conflict in Syria cannot be stopped while Syrian President Bashar al-Assad remains in power. "Russia can’t stop the war with Assad there because Assad attracts the foreign fighters, Assad is a magnet for terrorists because they are coming to fight Assad," Kerry claimed.
Discussing ways in which he could see government forces joining with opposition groups to fight the so-called Islamic State (IS, ISIS, ISIL), Kerry said that it could happen "provided there is a legitimate transitional process, which the Geneva communique calls for, with a government of transition, where the opposition is part of the government and the issue of Assad will be resolved through that process and people have confidence in that." However, Kerry made clear that this could only work "providing Assad is not the long-term future of Syria."
Kerry travelled to Moscow on Tuesday to discuss the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine with Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.