Turkish FM’s hectic schedule in Vienna for Syrian crisis

Sevil Erkuş - ANKARA

Turkish Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioğlu, US Secretary of State John Kerry and Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir pose for a photo upon arrival for a meeting to discuss the Syrian conflict on October 23, 2015 in Vienna. AFP PHOTO / POOL / CARLO ALLEGRI

Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioğlu has kicked off a day-long series of meetings in Vienna on Nov. 13 in effort to maintain momentum for renewed diplomacy towards a political settlement of the conflict in Syria.

Sinirlioğlu will separately meet U.S. Secretary General John Kerry and United Nations Special Envoy on the crisis Staffan de Mistura, ahead of a meeting with the U.S., Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey late Nov. 13. 

The Turkish FM will also have a meeting with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, before a second round of extended talks including China, Egypt, France, Germany, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Arab League, the European Union and the U.S. on the morning of Nov. 14 aimed at brokering an end to Syria’s five-year conflict. 

Meeting in Vienna on Oct. 30; China, Egypt, the EU, France, Germany, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United Nations and the U.S. came together to remove differences for a settlement on the Syrian crisis, particularly on the fate of al-Assad. 

In a joint statement, participants said state institutions of Syria will remain intact and a political process will be Syrian-led and Syrian-owned, with the Syrian people deciding the future of Syria.

Turkey is in favor of al-Assad leaving office after a temporary process in which he stays in office in symbolic power for six months at most, a Turkish diplomat told Hürriyet Daily News. 

Saudi Arabia, which considers Iran its main regional rival, also insists that al-Assad must be forced out immediately, although the U.S. seems to have softened its stance. Russia says his fate should be decided by the Syrian people in an election.