UNSC resolution a milestone

Major powers yesterday cautiously welcomed a UN Security Council's resolution to end Syria's brutal civil war by summoning rebels and the regime to the negotiating table.

The US and Russian initiative, which emerged from talks with a 17-nation group, foresees a rapid ceasefire in the almost five-year conflict, perhaps as early as next month.

If the plan brings Bashar al-Assad's regime to the table with the armed opposition, it will allow Russian and US-led forces to focus their firepower on the Islamic State group.

US Secretary of State John Kerry yesterday hailed the UN plan a "milestone" in the efforts to end the conflict there.

 He said the plan gave Syrians a "real choice... between war and peace".

"In January we hope and expect to be at the table and to be able to implement a full ceasefire," Kerry told reporters after UNSC adopted the resolution.

"And that means all the barrel bombs will stop, all the bombing, all the shooting, all the attacks on either side."

The Security Council met Friday after the latest round of talks by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), which had gathered in New York to renew its push for peace.

Attention now turns to Moscow and Riyadh, as Russia pressures Assad's regime to agree to a ceasefire and Saudi Arabia wrangles the opposition to form a negotiating team.

The UN special envoy on the conflict, Staffan de Mistura, said he would send out invitations to talks in January.

The United States and Arab allies remain convinced Assad must leave office as part of the process, but his allies Moscow and Tehran insist this is a decision for the Syrian people.

The resolution does not touch on this vital issue.

"Only a Syrian-led, inclusive dialogue can put an end to the untold suffering of the Syrian people," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned the Security Council.

Nevertheless, Kerry -- who has "agreed to disagree" with Moscow on Assad's fate -- said the vote would act as a springboard for forging ahead with peace talks.

The resolution enshrines the plan developed by the ISSG countries in a series of meetings in Geneva and Vienna.

The resolution foresees talks between the Syrian government and opposition in early January.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said it would be possible to reach an agreement on a unity government for Syria within six months.

The plan sets out a timetable for UN-supervised elections within 18 months, and stresses that the Syrian people will decide the future of their country.

The plan also calls for a ceasefire, but there is also disagreement over which armed groups should be designated as terrorists and consequently excluded from any talks or ceasefire.

The agreement demands that all parties cease attacks against civilians.

More than 250,000 people have died since Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011, and millions more have fled their homes.

Jordan's foreign minister presented a draft list of "terrorist" groups that the ISSG nations will agree to exclude from the talks.

This would include, but may not be limited to, the Islamic State group and the al-Qaeda-linked Al-Nusra Front.

Kerry said that there were still sharp disagreements between the ISSG parties, some of which sponsor armed factions on the ground, as to which groups should be banned. Iran said it would work with Russia, Oman, Egypt, Turkey, Jordan and France to prepare a list of extremist groups it wants to see banned from talks.

Syria's main opposition group, the Syrian National Coalition, warned that hopes for a ceasefire by January 1 were unrealistic and demanded that Russia halt its air strikes as part of that truce.

Najib Ghadbian, the SNC's envoy to the United Nations, said opposition groups need "a month or so" to prepare for the political talks that would begin in tandem with a ceasefire.

And, on the eve of the talks, Assad warned in an interview with Dutch television that misguided efforts to bring about regime change would make the conflict "drag on."

Assad responded with sarcasm when asked whether he was comforted that Washington's stance on his departure had seemingly softened.

"I was packing my luggage. I had to leave, but now I can stay," he joked.