Vienna Communiqué on Syria, October 30, 2015
Vienna Communiqué on Syria
“Meeting in Vienna, on October 30, 2015, 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 United States [“the participants”] came together to discuss the grave situation in Syria and how to bring about an end to the violence as soon as possible.
The participants had a frank and constructive discussion, covering major issues. While substantial differences remain among the participants, they reached a mutual understanding on the following:
1) Syria’s unity, independence, territorial integrity, and secular character
are fundamental.
2) State institutions will remain intact.
3) The rights of all Syrians, regardless of ethnicity or religious
denomination, must be protected.
4) It is imperative to accelerate all diplomatic efforts to end the war.
5) Humanitarian access will be ensured throughout the territory of Syria, and
the participants will increase support for internally displaced persons,
refugees, and their host countries.
6) Da'esh, and other terrorist groups, as designated by the U.N. Security
Council, and further, as agreed by the participants, must be defeated.
7) Pursuant to the 2012 Geneva Communique and U.N. Security Council Resolution
2118, the participants invited the U.N. to convene representatives of the
Government of Syria and the Syrian opposition for a political process leading
to credible, inclusive, non-sectarian governance, followed by a new constitution
and elections. These elections must be administered under U.N. supervision to
the satisfaction of the governance and to the highest international standards
of transparency and accountability, free and fair, with all Syrians, including
the diaspora, eligible to participate.
8) This political process will be Syrian led and Syrian owned, and the Syrian
people will decide the future of Syria.
9) The participants together with the United Nations will explore modalities
for, and implementation of, a nationwide ceasefire to be initiated on a date
certain and in parallel with this renewed political process.
The participants will spend the coming days working to narrow remaining areas of disagreement, and build on areas of agreement. Ministers will reconvene within two weeks to continue these discussions.”