Kerry Pushing Al-Assad to Find Peace in Syria
Published at
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images(AMMAN, Jordan) — Secretary Of State John Kerry is sending a message to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad: either find a peaceful solution to the two-year civil war or be prepared to deal with the international community boosting aid to the foes of his regime.
Speaking ahead of the 11-nation “Friends of Syria” conference in Amman, Jordan Wednesday, the top U.S. envoy urged al-Assad, who has vowed not to surrender, to make “a commitment to find peace in his country.”
Otherwise, Kerry warned that Washington and its allies will have no choice but to increase assistance to the Syrian opposition, which has thus far not included any weaponry.
Last week, Kerry and his Russian counterpart announced that the two nations would spearhead a conference in Geneva set for early June “to end the bloodshed which has cost tens of thousands of lives.”
The plan is to involve both sides in the Syrian conflict as well as other members of the international community, although neither al-Assad nor Syrian rebels have committed to sending representatives to the summit.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio