Tri-Service

Talks To Restore Syria's Fragile Truce

Senior figures from the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) have gathered in Vienna in an effort to restore a fragile truce between Syrian government and moderate opposition forces.

A partial pause in fighting was negotiated by the US and Russia in February, but has recently broken down because of a surge of bloodshed in Aleppo.

The 17 nations aim to put forward a plan that will revive the ceasefire, allow more aid to besieged areas, and encourage opposition troops to return to UN backed negotiations.

“We must find a way back into the political process” said Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, ahead of the talks.

“It's about improving the conditions for the ceasefire and humanitarian aid so as to win the opposition over to negotiate with the regime in Geneva."

Tentative UN talks began in Geneva after the February ceasefire was agreed, but collapsed last month when the opposition pulled out because of an increase in violence.

The UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan Da Mistura, is said to hope for new talks by the end of May, but for that to happen the opposition need to be convinced that it is worth talking.

He’s trying to meet a deadline of August 1st to form a transitional authority for Syria, that would lead to elections within 18 months.

More: The Russian Air Power Deployed In Syria

While America and Russia worked together to broker and become guarantors of the ceasefire, they see Syria’s future very differently.

The US Secretary of State, John Kerry, is insistent that President Bashar al-Assad and his regime must go, but Assad is a key Russian ally and Moscow wants him to stay.

Diplomats in Vienna are talking down the possibility of a big breakthrough in today’s discussions. There will likely be an agreed statement on next steps, but it is delivering those steps that matter.

Syria’s opposition negotiating committee has said it will not go back to the negotiating table until there is tangible progress on the ground.