(Reuters) - The U.N. envoy for Syria said on Friday that President Bashar al-Assad must be part of the solution for easing violence in Syria, and he would continue discussions with him after talks in Damascus earlier this week. The envoy, Staffan de
Mistura, is struggling to advance a proposal that would freeze fighting
in the northern city of Aleppo - one of the subjects he has said he had
discussed with Assad. In
Vienna for talks with Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, de
Mistura said the government still controlled a large part of Syria, and
that Assad was "part of the solution for the reduction of the violence",
clarifying an earlier remark at a news conference that Assad was part
of "the solution". The
United States is among Western powers that say Assad's violent response
to what began as a peaceful pro-democracy movement has disqualified him
to lead Syria, although Washington is at the same time leading a
coalition of countries bombing the Islamist militants who now dominate
the rebellion against Assad. "I
am not talking about a final solution," de Mistura told Reuters by
phone. "That is something that only the Syrians, if you had asked me,
would have to decide upon. The main point was he is part of the solution
in reducing violence." Earlier, speaking at a news conference with Kurz, he had said: "There is a large part of Syria
which is under the control of the Syrian government and I will continue
having very important discussions with him because he is part also of
the solution." About to enter its fifth year, the Syrian conflict has killed some 200,000 people.
U.N. envoy says Assad part of solution for easing Syria violence
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