Washington: The United States’ new special envoy for Syria, Michael Ratney, will visit Moscow, Riyadh and Geneva later this week in an attempt to find a political solution to the four-year old Syrian conflict.
A senior State Department official said Ratney, who was named as the envoy on July 27, would travel to the three centres from Aug. 28 to Sept. 2.
“Special Envoy Ratney will meet August 28 in Moscow with senior Russian officials and August 29 in Riyadh with senior Saudi officials, to continue discussions about working towards a genuine political transition and bringing an end to the devastating crisis in Syria,” said the official, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the plans.
In Geneva, he will meet with the United Nation’s special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura.
The Obama administration has long insisted that a political solution in Syria must include the exit of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, who is backed by Moscow and Tehran.
The United States has welcomed initiatives by Russia and the United Nations to convene new talks, although Washington insists that it must be done under the so-called Geneva framework, which proposes a transitional governing body in Syria.
Attempts last year to revive the UN-backed Geneva process between the Western-backed Syrian opposition and a government delegation failed after the sides disagreed over Al Assad’s exit.
The United States has been training and equipping Syrian opposition fighters trying to topple Al Assad, while a US-led coalition has bombed Daesh terrorists in Syria.
In an interview with Manar TV that was broadcast on Tuesday, Al Assad said he was open to an idea of a coalition against Daeshbut indicated there was little chance of it happening with his enemies, referring to Turkey and Saudi Arabia which have backed insurgent groups fighting him.
Al Assad’s comments cast further doubt on a Russian plan to forge an alliance against Daesh. Saudi Arabia has ruled out any coalition with Al Assad, and like the United States, wants to see Al Assad out of power.
At the State Department, spokesman John Kirby insisted, ”There is not going to be a military solution to this. It’s got to be done politically.” He said Ratney’s tour was part of US Secretary of State John Kerry’s efforts to “explore options with the Russians and with Saudi Arabia.” Kirby said the United States had long expressed concern over Moscow’s support for Al Assad, and added, “His brutality, his loss of legitimacy to govern has only allowed Daesh to fester inside the country.”
