Al-Jubeir: Vienna talks to test if Iran, Russia 'serious' on Syria
RIYADH — International talks in Vienna this week will test whether Russia and Iran are "serious" about a political solution to the war in Syria, Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said Wednesday.
"If they're serious we will know, and if they're not serious we will also know and stop wasting time with them," he said at a press conference with visiting British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond.
The two-day talks will "test the intentions of the Syrians and the Russians," Jubeir said.
He said the meetings will be a chance to "bridge the gap" between Iran and Russia on the one hand, and other countries on the role of President Bashar Al-Assad.
"There has to be certainty that Bashar Al-Assad will leave," Jubeir said.
For his part, Hammond said that while Russia and Iran think Assad should be able to stand for re-election, so that the Syrian people can decide on his future, Assad has "too much blood on his hands."
Iran earlier confirmed that Foreign Minister Javad Zarif will join his counterparts from Russia, the United States, Turkey and Saudi Arabia at the talks.
The inclusion of Iran — a key backer of President Al-Assad — marks a crucial shift after Tehran was excluded from earlier talks, mainly because of opposition from Washington and Riyadh.
The Vienna discussions are expected to be the first time all major international players in the conflict, linked to the nearly five-year war, will participate. Russia and Iran are supporting Assad's forces.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the West are backing rebels fighting Assad. Earlier, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman received Hammond and discussed bilateral relations between the two friendly countries.
Hammond also is due to travel to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain on his trip before heading to Vienna for talks on Syria's civil war.
Tens of thousands of British citizens live in the Mideast and Britain maintains strong military ties with many of the countries in the region. — Agencies
