美俄圍繞敘利亞戰爭恢復高級別面對面外交接洽
As U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry headed into another round of talks with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, the American diplomats accompanying Kerry sought to downplay expectations of an imminent deal on a Syrian cease-fire.
“We can't guarantee in any way we are on the cusp of finality,” said one U.S. official.
But Kerry, who spoke by telephone with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov at least four times Wednesday and Thursday, was optimistic enough to fly back to Switzerland for what is expected to be no more than a single day of negotiations.
The sticking points, for days, have been described by U.S. officials as “technical matters.” A key one, it has been revealed, involves ensuring “there will not be a siege of Aleppo,” according to a second State Department official who spoke to reporters aboard Kerry's plane. “It's not simply 'stop shooting,'” he added, explaining that overall the larger goal remains clearing the way for a transition stage to new leadership in Syria after a cease-fire holds.
There is considerable skepticism that a nationwide, sustainable cease-fire - the immediate goals as it has been repeatedly characterized by State Department officials - can hold for any period of time.
Syria is fractured after five years of war. There are numerous client forces of questionable allegiance and discipline pitted against each other, in addition to the so-called Islamic State group, which is beholden to no one.
Russia wants to see Syrian President Bashar al-Assad stay in power while moderate opposition forces and Turkey insist there can be no transition deal that retains him for any period of time.
The United States long-held stance is that the Syrian leader, for his brutal acts, cannot lead any future government.美國國務卿克里和俄羅斯外長拉夫羅夫進行新一輪會談，陪同克里談判的美國外交官對雙方就敘利亞停火達成協議的前景進行低調處理。
一名美國官員說，“我們不能保證達成最終協議”。不過，克里星期三和星期四同拉夫羅夫通過至少四次電話後保持樂觀，週五一早飛回瑞士，準備展開估計不到一天的談判。
幾天以來一直膠着的問題被美國官員形容爲技術問題。美國國務院另一名官員在飛機上告訴克里隨行的媒體說，一個關鍵問題是要保證阿勒頗不會發生圍城的情況。他補充說，不僅僅是停止射擊，並解釋說，更長遠的目標是在停火後爲敘利亞新領導層過渡鋪平道路。
外界對美國國務院反覆描述的當前目標，即達成敘利亞全國範圍內可持續的停火協議能夠撐多久，抱持相當的懷疑態度。
五年戰爭讓敘利亞分崩離析，除伊斯蘭國自成一體，其他派別相互對立，各有不同效忠。
俄羅斯希望敘利亞總統阿薩德繼續擔任總統，但溫和的反對派勢力和土耳其則堅持，如果阿薩德留任，就不可能達成任何過渡協議。
美國的一貫立場是，鑑於阿薩德的殘酷行徑，不能讓他作爲未來政府的領導人。
