Kerry urges Syrian peace talks to continue despite attack

Feb 02, 2016 U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry recently made an appeal to continue the Syrian peace talks in Geneva despite an attack by Islamic State bombers that killed more than 60 people.

Kerry insisted the conflict could easily engulf the Middle East, if no negotiated settlement was achieved.

Speaking on a televised statement, Kerry said:

“In the end there is no military solution to the conflict,”

He also called for immediate steps by all the parties to increase food aid and other humanitarian assistance to 13.5 million Syrians.

“Let me be clear: The Syrian regime has a fundamental responsibility – all the parties to the conflict have a duty – to facilitate humanitarian access to populations in desperate need … Right now, today,”

Kerry urged the parties to work toward measurable progress such as ceasefire, increasing humanitarian assistance and developing a political transition plan as outlined in a Security Council resolution approved last month.

He went on to insist that reaching a negotiated political settlement in Syrian would also undercut support for Islamic State militants across the region.