To: President Donald Trump, The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate
.@JohnKerry: Push for Syria Ceasefire by New Year's Day
Just Foreign Policy
Pres. Obama & Sec. of State Kerry should use all diplomatic means to ensure a UN-monitored ceasefire between the Syrian government and its Saudi/Turkey-backed armed opposition occurs by Jan. 1, as called for by the 11/14 Vienna agreement.
Why is this important?
On November 14, countries of the International Syria Support Group meeting in Vienna, including the United States, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Iran, agreed to push for political negotiations between opposition forces and representatives of the government of President Bashar al-Assad by January 1, to be followed by an immediate, UN-monitored cease-fire. [1]
The next session of the international Syria peace talks is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 18, possibly in New York City. [2]
As Secretary of State Kerry has said, the ceasefire between the Syrian government and opposition groups backed by Saudi Arabia and Turkey will significantly strengthen international efforts to confront ISIS. [3]
Urge President Obama to pursue, and Congress to support, all diplomatic tools to ensure the implementation of a ceasefire in Syria by January 1 by signing our petition.
References:
1. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/paris-attacks-overshadow-meeting-of-global-leaders-on-syria/2015/11/14/5e2eb89a-8ac2-11e5-9a07-453018f9a0ec_story.html; http://www.un.org/undpa/Speeches-statements/14112015/syria
2. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/02/world/middleeast/new-peace-talks-on-syria-could-be-held-this-month.html
3. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/498cf8d5a3384728af0eaa449e366867/kerry-paris-consult-french-leaders-attack