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          UN Envoy Goes to Russia in Bid to Relaunch Syria Cease-fire

   by Luis Ramirez

   The effort to get Syria's warring sides to recommit to a cessation of
   hostilities shifts Tuesday to Moscow where Russian Foreign Minister
   Sergei Lavrov is hosting the U.N.'s envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura
   to discuss ways to put the truce back in place.

   The cease-fire between pro-government forces and rebel fighters went
   into effect in late February, leading to a dramatic drop in violence
   that has slowly eroded as both sides alleged repeated violations. The
   fighting has been worst around the northern city of Aleppo where
   government airstrikes and rebel shelling have killed hundreds of people
   during the past week.

   Lavrov's office said he spoke by telephone Monday with U.S. Secretary
   of State John Kerry, and that they both urged all sides to "strictly
   observe the cease-fire."

   The call followed Kerry's own meeting with de Mistura in Geneva where
   he said the United States and its partners are discussing "several
   proposals" to stop the spiraling violence." Kerry did not specify what
   those proposals are.

   News agencies quoted U.S. officials who requested anonymity as saying
   the United States is considering mapping out "safe zones" marked by
   "hard lines" that would provide refuge for civilians and members of the
   moderate opposition.

   ''

   No help from Russia

   Getting Russia's support has been key but elusive for Kerry, who has
   called for Moscow's help in getting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's
   forces to stop their assault on rebel-held parts of Syria's largest
   city.

   "There are several proposals that are now going back to key players to
   sign off," Kerry said after his meetings Monday with de Mistura and
   Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir. "We are hopeful but we are not
   there yet," Kerry said, adding the U.S. and its partners "are going to
   work very hard in the next 24 hours, 48 hours to get there."

   Kerry said an agreement on Aleppo could be announced in the coming
   days.

   For the United States, it is important to show it has not given up on
   resolving the five-year-old conflict, but there are questions on
   whether a low level of U.S. commitment has resulted in a Russian
   victory in the region as the Russian-backed Syrian government forces
   retake large swaths of land.

   "We're in a kind of phase in the conflict where there are ongoing
   battles for advantage happening," David Butter, a Middle East analyst
   at Chatham House in London, told VOA. "Of course, the momentum is very
   much on the Assad regime."

   Key battle

   The battle for Aleppo is key at a time when the conflict has become a
   test of U.S. commitment in the region.

   Kerry arranged the trip after it became clear the humanitarian
   situation in the city was deteriorating rapidly and as proximity talks
   between the Assad government and the moderate opposition failed.

   Scenes of escalating violence and atrocities committed against
   civilians are an opportunity for the United States to demonstrate a
   leadership role in resolving the conflict, analysts say.

   ''

   As Syrian forces prepared the latest assault on Aleppo two weeks ago,
   Russia had successfully portrayed the efforts as a counter-terrorist
   operation to strike at the al-Nusra Front, which the United States and
   Russia consider a terrorist group.

   Analysts note that U.S. officials, intentionally or not, were
   interpreted as being unopposed to the Aleppo operation before it began.
   U.S. military officials were quoted as saying the al-Nusra front was a
   major dominant force in the city and "not part" of the cease-fire.

   The perception changed when an airstrike hit Aleppo's al Quds hospital,
   a facility supported by the group Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors
   Without Borders) killing several children and medical staff, including
   one of the city's remaining pediatricians.

   The incident outraged Kerry and analysts say it was an opportunity for
   the U.S. to step up its efforts to change any perception that it was
   not taking an active enough role in resolving the Syrian conflict.

   US needs to show commitment

   Demonstrating the U.S. administration's commitment to fulfill promises
   remains a major task for Kerry.

   "[President] Obama set the tone by talking quite a big game on Syria,
   but not having any strategic commitments. Because the U.S. hasn't
   really invested, it's not got much to lose except as a non-actor," said
   analyst David Butter.

   Jasmine Gani, an analyst at the Center for Syrian Studies at the
   University of St. Andrews in Scotland, told VOA that perceptions of
   U.S. legitimacy in the region hang in the balance as a result of what
   she calls a "mismatched rhetoric and policy." She says Washington
   raised expectations by calling for Assad's exit early in the conflict
   and then failed to provide the support needed to carry out that aim.

   With Russia now figuring strongly in the equation, Gani said the U.S.
   "has to be a lot more careful as to what it puts its commitment to. In
   the past, it was not such a problem, but the shift of dynamics in
   global power means there is greater scrutiny on the United States to
   fulfill its promises."
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   aunch-syria-cease-fire/3312969.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/un-envoy-goes-to-russia-in-bid-to-relaunch-syria-cease-fire/3312969.html