"While finding a way forward on Syria will not be easy, it's not going to be automatic, (but) it is the most promising opportunity for a political opening we have seen," he said during a speech on America's Middle East policy.
"The challenge that we face in Syria today is nothing less than to chart a course out of hell," Kerry told an audience at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
He also cited some statistics to highlight urgency to end the war on Syria: one in 20 Syrians killed or wounded; one in five now refugees; average life expectancy down 20 years.
Kerry is heading to Vienna Wednesday for a new round of talks on solving the Syria crisis.
The Secretary was expected to meet with his counterparts from a dozen countries there for a series of bilateral and multilateral talks on Thursday and Friday.
Kerry also linked the Syria issue with the war on the Islamic State (IS) militant group.
"Ultimately, to defeat Daesh, we have to end the war in Syria, and that is America's goal," Kerry said, using a term for the IS group based on its Arabic acronym.
The Vienna discussions this week will also see Iran's participation for the first time. Iran has confirmed that its Foreign Minister Javad Zarif will be attending.
Russia, the United States, Saudi Arabia and Turkey will be joined by Britain, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Lebanon and the European Union at this week's meetings.
The United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Jordan will also be present, according to media reports.
Xinhua -china.org.cn
29/10/15
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John Kerry seeks end to civil war 'hell'...
ReplyDeleteThe US is intensifying diplomatic efforts to end the "hell" of Syria's civil war even as it increases support for moderate rebels, US Secretary of State John Kerry has said.
Mr Kerry is travelling to Vienna for talks with foreign ministers on ending the four-and-a-half year conflict.
Iran is for the first time taking part in such talks, which will also include Russia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
Russia and Iran both support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The US, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab nations insist he cannot play any long-term role in the country's future.
Foreign ministers from the UK, France, Germany, Egypt, Lebanon and the EU have also confirmed they will attend the meeting, and other Middle Eastern powers are also expected...............http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34663093