German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Nov. 14 that countries participating in a one-day conference on Syria had decided to start immediate talks with opposition groups there. He told reporters outside the talks that the countries wanted elections to be held in Syria in 18 months, but added: "No one has any illusions about how difficult the task ahead will be." U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, also told reporters that Syria talks in Vienna yield backing for plan including a U.N.-mediated ceasefire, Syrian regime-opposition meeting by year's end, and elections in 18 months. The Vienna talks featured foreign ministers and senior officials from the United States, Russia, Turkey and more than a dozen other countries including Middle Eastern foes Iran and Saudi Arabia. Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioğlu represented Turkey at the talks. Western powers and their allies have insisted al-Assad must leave power as part of any political solution to the four-year conflict. His allies Russia and Iran support elections in which he could stand. Diplomats say, according to reuters, negotiators have struggled with the central issue of which organizations are terrorist groups and which are part of the opposition, which will determine who can take part in the political process. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said a process toward reaching a settlement for Syria's civil war could start, but declined to give further details pending a statement later by U.S. Secretary of State Kerry. She said EU foreign ministers would discuss the matter in Brussels on Nov. 16, adding: "The EU will take its part in all the decisions that were made today."
