NEW YORK, Dec. 18 (UPI) — Members of the United Nations Security Council on Friday agreed to the text of a draft resolution intended to facilitate peace in terror- and war-torn Syria.
The five permanent council members — comprised of the United States, Russia, France, Britain and China — agreed to the peace road map, diplomats said, and the full 15-member council is expected to adopt the resolution by the end of Friday, BBC News reported.
The draft’s text seeks to join the Syrian government, led by U.S. enemy Bashar Assad, and rebel forces for peace talks starting Jan. 1, 2016. It also calls for a ceasefire between Syrian forces and rebel groups.
Negotiators have been meeting in New York this week to try to pass a plan to stop the fighting in Syria, where civil war has devastated the west Asian nation for nearly five years under Assad’s regime.
To date, more than a quarter million people have so far died and more than 12 million displaced in the conflict.
The Syrian National Coalition, the main political opponent to Assad, reportedly said the Jan. 1 start date is “unrealistic” and mandated that the cessation of Russian airstrikes must also be part of the agreement.
In recent years, the Syrian conflict has further strained diplomatic relations between the United States and Russia — with Moscow backing Assad and Washington supporting the rebels. At the U.N. level, though, both powers agreed last month to support a resolution to expand the fight against — including those who’ve gained strongholds and launched waves of attacks in Syria.
A formal Security Council vote on the agreement is expected to take place at 4 p.m. EDT.
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