Paris meeting calls for ending fighting in Syria, mainly Aleppo

PARIS, Dec 10 (KUNA) -- The UN, and French, US and German Foreign Ministers called for putting an end to the ongoing battles in Syria, mainly Aleppo, and helping civilians leave the conflict-affected areas.
Speaking at a news conference following the meeting, United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura on Saturday underlined the priority of evacuating civilians from Aleppo.
The meeting was held in Paris today on the developments in Aleppo, with the participation of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the EU.
Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called on the Syrian regime and its supporters - Russia and Iran - to open the way for people to leave Aleppo, affirming that the "existence of fighters of Fateh Al-Sham Front, formerly Al-Nusra, doesn't justify transforming the entire city into ashes." US Secretary of State John Kerry said reaching a solution is linked to key options to be taken be Russia, urging Moscow and Damascus to end the disaster in Aleppo.
He added the random bombardment by the Syrian regime violates the laws and is considered in many cases crimes against mankind and war crimes.
He noted that the "fall of Aleppo will not be the end of war in Syria." Kerry's French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault stressed the necessity of "achieving an actual political transition aiming to guarantee a peaceful future in Syria." Ayrault noted that the Syrian opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC) is ready to resume talks on political settlement without any preliminary conditions.
He called for resuming negotiations in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254 which set in December, 2015, a roadmap for reaching a settlement. (end) mmb.hm