This is the moment to find solution to Syrian crisis: Kerry

LONDON, February 13: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says “this is the moment” to find a political solution the crisis in Syria.
Speaking Saturday at a security conference in Munich, Kerry said, “Whether one side or the other has an advantage today – this conflict will still require a political solution to make peace and create enduring stability.”
Kerry said “decisions made in the coming days, weeks and months” can either end the war or “open the door to even wider conflict.” Kerry said “Writing checks is not going to solve this problem.”
Earlier Saturday, Russia’s prime minister said accusations his country is bombing civilians in Syria are “just not true.”
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said “there is no evidence” of such bombings.
He made the comment moments after French Prime Minister Manuel Valls called on Russia to stop bombing civilians in Syria, saying it was crucial in order to reach any peaceful solution.
The Russian and French prime ministers are among delegates from Europe, the U.S. and elsewhere meeting again Saturday in attempts to end nearly five years of violence in Syria.
On Friday, just hours after world leaders announced a deal at the conference to push for a cessation of hostilities in Syria within a week, the agreement was put to the test.
In an interview published Friday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told the French news agency, AFP, his forces plan to “retake the whole country,” fueling doubts about the parties’ commitment to end the conflict.
Assad said recapturing all of the territory could take “a long time.” The Syrian president said he supports peace efforts, but cautioned that the negotiations do “not mean that we stop fighting terrorism.”
Observers point to a number of holes in the deal agreed to Thursday they say could allow Assad’s forces, with Russia’s help, to keep up their assault on rebel areas.
For one, the deal does not provide for any truce in the Syrian government’s fight against terrorists including Islamic State militants and the al-Nusra Front. But the Assad government considers all opposition fighters, both moderates and extremists, terrorists, and Russia has continued to bomb what it says are terrorist targets, enabling Assad’s forces to make considerable gains recently around Aleppo, Syria’s largest city.
Syrian rebels continue to accuse Russia’s warplanes of indiscriminately striking civilians and the moderate opposition.
In announcing the deal to push for a pause in hostilities, U.S. officials have been cautious in their expectations. Secretary of State John Kerry said the agreement is “on paper” only and said “the real test” is whether all parties honor their commitments.
The agreement is not a cease-fire deal, but a statement of intent by foreign governments to work toward stopping the fighting in a week’s time – enough to allow humanitarian aid to reach civilians in rebel-held areas.
This was one key condition that representatives of the Syrian opposition say must be met before they re-join indirect peace talks that broke off last week in Geneva. U.S. and U.N. officials are working to resume the dialogue later this month. On Friday, Kerry said the agreement “represents what the opposition wanted.” “They wanted it called and defined as a cessation of hostilities. That is very much in line with their thinking and their hopes,” Kerry told reporters in Munich. The Syrian opposition has stopped short of welcoming the agreement, but sees it as an incremental step forward. Opposition representatives on Friday indicated they would be prepared to rejoin the peace talks if parts of it are implemented within the next week.
Salem Meslet, speaking for the main opposition group, the High Negotiations Committee, said “We must see action on the ground in Syria.” There are questions of whether the agreement by world leaders to seek a cessation of hostilities in Syria marks the beginning of a lasting deal for peace, or is simply a stopgap measure by world politicians to appear as though they are addressing a situation that is out of control. International human rights advocates on Friday urged world leaders to follow through with commitments that they say could alleviate the suffering of millions of Syrians. “It is essential that strenuous diplomatic efforts continue beyond today’s headlines to ensure that the human rights and humanitarian-related provisions agreed are adhered to by all parties,” said Philip Luther, Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Program, in a statement.-Agencies
The longer-term prospects for peace now hinge on whether the Syrian government and Russian forces in the coming days allow for humanitarian convoys to reach rebel-held areas, and whether the opposition decides to re-join peace negotiations.-Agencies