WASHINGTON (AP) – The United States, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Iran haven’t agreed on much throughout Syria’s bloody four-and-a-half year-old civil war.
But for the sake of peace, they will try this weekend to decide which of Syria’s fighting forces are common enemies and which can be included in a transition government with President Bashar Assad, their intractable enemy.
Failure to reach an agreement could leave international peace efforts in tatters.
As diplomats return to Vienna for another round of Syria talks on Saturday, they’re grappling with questions that have scuttled all previous attempts to forge a ceasefire and usher in a political transition.
Other than the Islamic State group, who are the extremists? Who from Syria’s government and opposition should do the negotiating? How long can Assad remain in power?