BELGRADE (Sputnik) — The settlement of the Syrian conflict through the Vienna negotiations is the only way to defeat Islamic State (ISIL, or Daesh in Arab world), EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said Thursday.
"The defeat of Daesh can only be achieved if we put an end to the Syrian crisis and Syrian civil war and it could only be achieved through the process [of] national reconciliation. The process in Vienna is the only way forward," Mogherini said at the Ministerial Council conference of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Syria has been in a state of civil war since 2011. The country’s government is fighting a number of opposition forces, as well as radical Islamist militant organizations, including the Nusra Front and Daesh.
The last round of Syria talks in the Austrian capital of Vienna took place on November 14, and involved regional and world powers, including Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Turkey. The participating states set a six-month timeframe for Syria to form an interim unity government, whereas elections in Syria should be held within 18 months.
