MOSCOW, May 11 (RIA Novosti) - The United States believes a military engagement in Syria may still be prevented, Secretary of State John Kerry said Friday.
“If the political willpower is there and shared, and if people are prepared to compromise reasonably, there is a path forward to be able to have a peaceful solution in Syria,” Kerry said during an online conference.
He said during a Google+ hangout with NBC's Andrea Mitchell that if a transitional government is chosen, it would not include Assad as the opposition would never consent to his candidacy.
During Kerry’s visit to Russia earlier this week, an agreement was reached to hold an international meeting on Syria that will include both representatives of the Syrian government and opposition. The conference, to be arranged by the end of May, will be aimed at facilitating a solution to the Syrian crisis through political dialog.
About 70,000 people have died in Syria since the beginning of the uprising against Assad, according to UN figures. Russia, along with China, has faced widespread condemnation over its refusal to approve UN sanctions against Assad’s regime.
Moscow has repeatedly stated it has no interest in seeing Assad remain in power, but is rather concerned that unilateral sanctions would create a power vacuum that would lead to more violence.
