Kerry Meets Saudi Leaders to Ease Tensions

John Kerry meets Saudi Foreign Minster, Prince Saud Al-Faisal

AL JAZEERA: Secretary of State lands in Riyadh, his second stop on a Middle East tour that has become an exercise in damage control.

United States Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Saudi Arabia hoping to repair ties with America's longstanding ally, which have frayed over the Syrian conflict and US outreach to Iran.

Kerry was greeted on Sunday night in Riyadh by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz al-Saud.

The top US diplomat is already on his second stop of an 11-day trip which has become an exercise in damage control, as regional turbulence stirs tensions with longtime US partners.

Saudi Arabia, locked in a decades-long rivalry with Iran, is concerned that proposed Syrian peace talks could leave a Tehran-backed government in Damascus and that a breakthrough in nuclear negotiations could see US-Iranian relations restored. » | Source: AFP | Sunday, November 03, 2013

Espionnage: les États-Unis admettent avoir commis des excès

Le secrétaire d'État américain John Kerry

LA PRESSE: Les États-Unis ont encore concédé vendredi avoir commis des excès en matière d'espionnage, au lendemain d'un aveu très clair du secrétaire d'État John Kerry, en pleine polémique avec l'Europe et l'Asie sur la collecte massive de données par Washington.

Après dix jours d'indignation internationale, le département d'État a admis du bout des lèvres certains abus dans les programmes d'interception de communications et de collecte d'informations menés dans le monde entier par la toute puissante Agence nationale de sécurité (NSA).

La porte-parole de la diplomatie américaine Jennifer Psaki a invoqué, lors de son point de presse vendredi, «le réexamen» des pratiques américaines en matière de renseignement que le président Barack Obama avait annoncé en début de semaine.

«Nous n'aurions pas ce réexamen si nous ne pensions pas que ces programmes méritaient d'être regardés de près», a reconnu la responsable, promettant des «changements, si nécessaires». » | Nicolas Revise | Agence France-Presse | Washington | vendredi 01 novembre 2013

John Kerry Admits US Spying Has 'Reached Too Far'

John Kerry

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: US secretary of state promises some US spying practices will end as global outrage at surveillance builds

John Kerry, the US secretary of state, has admitted that some of America's spying activities have "reached too far".

He said many of the surveillance practices were carried out "on automatic pilot, because the technology is there and the ability is there."

Speaking to a conference in London via viedolink [sic], Mr Kerry promised that a review of National Security Agency surveillance work would result in some spying activities being halted altogether.

"The president and I have learned of some things that have been happening in many ways on an automatic pilot, because the technology is there and the ability is there," he said.

"I assure you, innocent people are not being abused in this process, but there's an effort to try to gather information, but in some cases, some of these actions have reached too far and we are going to try to make sure it doesn't happen in the future." Read on and comment » | Bonnie Malkin and agencies | Friday, November 01, 2013

Rebuffing Hassan Rouhani Would Be 'Diplomatic Malpractice', John Kerry Says

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: America would be guilty of "diplomatic malpractice" if it rebuffed offers by Hassan Rouhani to seek an agreement over Iran's disputed nuclear programme, John Kerry, the US secretary of state, has said.

Speaking in Tokyo, Mr Kerry said the US had an obligation to respond positively to the olive branch extended by Mr Rouhani, the Iranian president, who has embarked on a charm offensive aimed at achieving rapprochement with the West and ending the decade-long stand- off over his country's uranium enrichment programme.

"It would be diplomatic malpractice of the worst order not to examine every possibility of whether or not you can achieve that before you ask people to take military action and do what you have to do to prevent it," he told reporters. "You have to exhaust the remedies before you ratchet up to a next tier of remedies that may have more dramatic consequences."

Mr Kerry words jarred with the belligerent message of Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, who gave a series of interviews on US television warning of the dangers of engaging Mr Rouhani. » | Robert Tait, Middle East Correspondent | Thursday, October 03, 2013

Syria: West Vows to Increase Backing for Rebels

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Britain, France and the United States agreed to strengthen the Syrian opposition and increase pressure on President Bashar al-Assad to respect a deal to give up his chemical weapons arsenal to avoid military action.

But Russia warned that talks between the three powers in Paris on a “strong” United Nations resolution on Syria could wreck peace efforts.

Britain, France and the US agreed that Assad would face “serious consequences” if he fails to comply with a UN resolution setting out a timetable for the handover of Syria’s chemical weapons to international control, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said at a joint press conference.

John Kerry, the US secretary of state, said the allies were committed to keeping up the pressure on Assad following a deal between the US and Russia on the handover of Syrian chemical weapons reached in Geneva on Saturday.

"If the Assad regime believes that this is not enforceable and we are not serious, they will play games...The military option is still on the table,” he said. » | Henry Samuel, Paris | Monday, September 16, 2013

Syrie : Paris menace Damas »

US and Russia Agree Syria Arms Deal in Geneva

BBC: Syria's chemical weapons must be destroyed or removed by mid-2014, under an agreement between the US and Russia.

US Secretary of State John Kerry outlined a six-point framework under which Syria must hand over a full list of its stockpile within a week.

If Syria fails to comply, the deal could be enforced by a UN resolution backed by the threat of sanctions or military force.

The US says the Syrian regime killed hundreds in a gas attack last month.

The government of Bashar al-Assad denies the allegations and has accused the rebels of carrying out the attack. (+ video) » | Saturday, September 14, 2013

Uno-Resolution zu Syrien: Obama beugt sich russischem Druck

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Russland setzt sich durch: Im Ringen um eine Syrien-Resolution im Uno-Sicherheitsrat wollen die USA offenbar nicht auf einem möglichen Militärschlag beharren. Ein Lapsus unterlief Uno-Chef Ban, der sich aus Versehen öffentlich über Verbrechen von Syriens Machthaber Assad äußerte.

Genf/New York - Im Tauziehen um eine friedliche Beilegung des Syrien-Konflikts kommt US-Präsident Barack Obama offenbar den russischen Verhandlungspartnern entgegen. Obama werde nicht auf einer Uno-Resolution beharren, die Syrien mit einem Militärschlag droht, berichtet die "New York Times" ("NYT").

Eine solche Resolution wäre ohnehin nicht durchsetzbar, da Russland sie im Sicherheitsrat blockieren könnte. Obamas Verzicht auf die Forderung ist aber nach dem jüngsten Disput über eine öffentliche Kritik von Russland Präsident Putin in der "NYT" ein Zeichen der Entspannung. Obama wird dem Bericht zufolge stattdessen verlangen, dass ein möglicher Sicherheitsratsbeschluss andere Instrumente zur Durchsetzung der Forderungen vorsieht - etwa Sanktionen.

Konstruktiv verlaufen die Verhandlungen zwischen US-Chefdiplomat John Kerry und seinem russischen Kollegen Sergej Lawrow in Genf. Die Gespräche seien "offensichtlich an einem Wendepunkt angelangt" und hätten "Fortschritte im Hinblick auf eine gemeinsame Vereinbarung" erbracht, hieß es in der Nacht zum Samstag aus US-Delegationskreisen. Nach einem mehrstündigen Verhandlungsmarathon unterbrachen die Unterhändler aus Washington und Moskau am Samstagmorgen gegen zwei Uhr ihre Beratungen, um sie später wieder fortzusetzen. (+ Video) » | dab/dpa/AFP/Reuters | Samstag, 14. September 2013

Syrie: les Européens pour «une réponse forte» aux attaques chimiques

LA PRESSE: Les pays de l'Union européenne se sont accordés samedi à Vilnius sur la nécessité d'une réponse internationale «forte» à l'utilisation d'armes chimiques en Syrie, mais sans aller jusqu'à soutenir le projet de frappes défendu par le secrétaire d'État américain John Kerry et par la France.

Au lendemain d'un G20 où il n'avait pas réussi à obtenir un large soutien international, le président américain Barack Obama a lancé un appel aux membres du Congrès américain pour qu'ils approuvent le principe d'une opération armée. «Nous sommes les États-Unis. On ne peut pas rester aveugle devant les images de Syrie que nous avons vues», a-t-il déclaré dans son allocution hebdomadaire à la radio.

Les États-Unis ont eu la satisfaction de voir l'Allemagne se joindre à l'appel lancé la veille par onze pays présents au G20 pour une «réponse internationale forte», de nature non spécifiée, aux attaques chimiques du 21 août dans la banlieue de Damas.

Sans reprendre exactement les termes de cet appel, les ministres des Affaires étrangères de l'UE, réunis à Vilnius, sont tombés d'accord sur la nécessité d'une «réponse claire et forte». » | Agence France-Presse | Vilnius | samedi 07 septembre 2013

Syria: John Kerry Stumbles on Use of US Ground Troops

John Kerry stumbled as he made the White House's case for war, first saying that US ground troops could be deployed if Syria "imploded" before hastily insisting there "will not be American boots on the ground".

Read the article and comment here | Raf Sanchez, Washington and Jon Swaine in New York | Tuesday, September 03, 2013

John Kerry and Bashar al-Assad Dined in Damascus

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Photographs showing John Kerry, the US secretary of state, dining in splendour with President Bashar al-Assad have emerged, as Mr Kerry likened the Syrian ruler to Hitler.

Mr Kerry visited Damascus in February 2009, when he was chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

He said in a press conference during the visit: "President Barack Obama's administration considers Syria a key player in Washington's efforts to revive the stalled Middle East peace process.

"Syria is an essential player in bringing peace and stability to the region."

Mr Kerry met with Mr Assad at least six times, and on one occasion – seen in the photographs – dining with the two men's wives at the Naranj restaurant in central Damascus.

The restaurant, in the heart of Damascus's Old Town, is on a marble paved avenue named Straight Street, which was built by the Romans and mentioned in the Bible. » | Harriet Alexander | Tuesday, September 03, 2013

US Intelligence on Syria Gas Attack 'Unconvincing', Says Russia

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Western intelligence reports about Syrian use of chemical weapons that have been seen by the Russian government are “completely unconvincing,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said.

Mr Lavrov said that evidence recently provided by the United States, Britain, and France showing regime culpability for chemical weapons attacks was too vague to stand up to scrutiny.

“What we were shown before and what our American, British and French colleagues sent us more recently absolutely does not convince us,” he said.

His remarks came a day after John Kerry, the US Secretary of State, insisted America had evidence that Bashar al-Assad used sarin gas in the devastating chemical weapons attack that killed more than 1,400 people last month. Mr Kerry used an appearance on Fox News on Sunday morning to pile pressure on the US Congress ahead of a vote on military strikes announced by Barack Obama over the weekend.

Mr Kerry said that he could not contemplate the idea that Congress would grant "impunity to a ruthless dictator to continue to gas his people". He said the US had detected sarin in soil and blood samples obtained from first responders.

Meanwhile it was reported that Russia has dispatched an intelligence ship to the Eastern Mediterranean, as it further beefs up its naval presence in the region ahead of anticipated US strikes against its Syrian ally. » | Roland Oliphant, Moscow | Monday, September 02, 2013

Kerry: 'Intel' Shows 'Thug & Murderer' Assad Carried Out Chemical Attack

United States Secretary of State John Kerry said Friday that the US intelligence community has concluded that the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is responsible for killing more than 1,000 people with chemical gas last week near Damascus.

John Kerry Statement on Syria Polarises World Leaders

THE GUARDIAN: Iran and Russia stand alongside Bashar al-Assad's regime while the UK, France and Australia follow Washington's lead

As the US moves towards military intervention in the Syrian conflict, world leaders have issued a string of belicose statements, with Iran and Russia standing alongside the Assad regime against a western alliance led by the US, UK, France and Australia.

In their toughest terms to date, David Cameron and US secretary of state, John Kerry, spoke of the undeniable and "asbolutely abhorrent" and use of chemical weapons in Syria. In response, the Assad regime and Iran warned that foreign military intervention in Syria would result in a conflict that would engulf the region.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Abbas Araqchi, intimated that Tehran would respond, should the west strike.

"We want to strongly warn against any military attack in Syria. There will definitely be perilous consequences for the region," Araqchi told a news conference. "These complications and consequences will not be restricted to Syria. It will engulf the whole region."

Walid al-Moallem, Syria's foreign minister, also vowed that the regime would defend itself using all means available in the event of a US-led assault.

"I challenge those who accuse our forces of using these weapons to come forward with the evidence," he told reporters at a press conference in Damascus. "We have the means to defend ourselves, and we will surprise everyone."

Shia Iran is Syria's closest ally and has accused an alliance of militant Sunni Islamists, Israel and western powers of trying to use the conflict to take over the region. » | Paul Lewis in Washington, Martin Chulov in Beirut, Julian Borger, Nicholas Watt and agencies | Tuesday, August 27, 2013

John Kerry: Violence in Egypt Is 'Deplorable'

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: John Kerry, the US secretary of state, has condemned the violence in Egypt as "deplorable" – but refused to say whether America would take steps to pressure the military into halting its onslaught.

As the death toll climbed to at least 149, Mr Kerry made an unexpected appearance at a routine State Department briefing to address the spiralling crisis.

"The United States strongly condemns today's violence and bloodshed across Egypt," Mr Kerry said.

"It's a serious blow to reconciliation and the Egyptian people's hopes for a transition towards democracy and inclusion."

Mr Kerry called for restraint on all sides, but said the military and the interim government it installed in July had a "unique responsibility to prevent further violence".

The US strongly opposed a return to the government-declared state of emergency, he said, which would grant the security forces widespread powers to round up supporters of the ousted president Mohamed Morsi. » | Raf Sanchez, Washington | Wednesday, August 14, 2013

The Sunday Times Interview with Syria's President Bashar al-Assad

John Kerry Invents a New Country: Kyrzakhstan

John Kerry: Bashar Al-Assad Must Step Down in Syria
During his first visit to the UK as new US secretary of state, John Kerry condemns the "indiscriminate killing of innocent civillians" in Syria.