Transition towards peace in Syria can’t involve Assad, says Turkey

(Reuters) A transition towards peace in Syria that involves President Bashar al-Assad is “impossible” as the country’s opposition will not accept him, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Wednesday.

Cavusoglu also confirmed Turkey had prepared an agreement towards a ceasefire.

Turkish state media earlier said Turkey and Russia had agreed on a proposal toward a general ceasefire in Syria.

Anadolu, citing sources, said the two countries have reached a consensus that will be presented to participants in the conflict on expanding the ceasefire that was established in Aleppo earlier this month.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that United Nations Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura supported efforts by Russia, Turkey and Iran to try to get a ceasefire in Syria and organize new Syrian peace talks in Kazakhstan.

The ministry said de Mistura had spoken by phone with Russian Foreign Minster Sergei Lavrov.

Russia, Iran and Turkey said last week they were ready to help broker a peace deal after holding talks in Moscow where they adopted a declaration setting out the principles any agreement should adhere to.

Arrangements for the talks, which would not include the United States and be distinct from separate intermittent U.N.-brokered negotiations, remain hazy, but Moscow has said they would take place in Kazakhstan, a close ally.

Russia’s foreign minister on Tuesday said the Syrian government was consulting with the opposition ahead of possible peace talks, while a Saudi-backed opposition group said it knew nothing of the negotiations but supported a ceasefire.