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May 8, 2013

U.S., Russia Plan New International Conference on Syria 
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The United States and Russia have announced plans to convene a new
international conference on the crisis in Syria. Speaking during a visit
to Moscow, Secretary of State John Kerry suggested the ouster of Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad is no longer a precondition for negotiations
in the eyes of the United States. He also said talks could help avoid
increased U.S. intervention including the arming of Syria's rebels.

Secretary of State John Kerry: "The Geneva communiqué says that the
transitional government has to be chosen by mutual consent, by the
parties. Who are the parties? The parties are the current regime and the
opposition. If this kind of process can move successfully to bring
parties together and actually implement the Geneva communiqué, then
hopefully that would not be necessary. So, much will depend on what
happens over the course of these next weeks."

 

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