Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

karynnj

(59,923 posts)
Thu Sep 26, 2013, 10:06 PM Sep 2013

What a day this is for Kerry - historic talks with the Iranian FM and agreement on the Syria deal

He must have been incredibly busy and it was a momentous day. It was Kerry and Lavrov who worked out the last problems remaining in the language.

The development was announced after hastily convened talks between the US secretary of state, John Kerry, and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. If the resolution is adopted, it would be the first legally binding resolution on the Syrian conflict. "

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/26/syria-chemical-weapons-un-resolution

The AP says :

"But the draft resolution, seen by The Associated Press, makes clear that there is no trigger for enforcement measures if Syria fails to comply. Instead, it states that the Security Council will "impose measures under Chapter 7 of the United Nations Charter," which will require a second resolution.
Chapter 7 allows for military and nonmilitary actions to promote peace and security. Russia, Syria's most powerful ally, had opposed any reference to it. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held hastily scheduled talks Thursday afternoon to resolve several last-minute disputes on the text."


Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/key-powers-agree-on-resolution-aimed-at-eliminating-syria-s-chemical-weapons-1.1472043#ixzz2g3YHPqDs


Then he was part of the group of foreign ministers to meet with the Iranian FM - followed by a one to one meeting - the highest such meeting since 1979.
Iran and the United States held their highest-level substantive talks in a generation on Thursday, saying the tone was positive but sounding cautious about resolving the long-running standoff over Iran's nuclear program.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met after the Iranian held wider talks with the United States and other major powers to address Western suspicions Iran may be trying to develop atomic weapons.

Diplomats from the major countries described the atmosphere of the wider talks in positive terms but they, as well as the U.S. and Iranian foreign ministers, stressed the difficulty of resolving a dispute that has eluded solution for a decade.

"We had a very constructive meeting," Kerry told reporters at the United Nations, where he and Zarif sat next to one another in a gesture that suggested a desire on both sides to explore how to ease their nations' more than three-decade estrangement.


http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/26/us-un-assembly-iran-idUSBRE98P0XE20130926
14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

Cha

(305,136 posts)
1. Yes, it was SOS Kerry who helped broker this deal.
Thu Sep 26, 2013, 10:12 PM
Sep 2013

He's been great all along, karenVT!

Sounds very busy and productive.. the Kerrys have been through so much healthwise and now it looks like Kerry has all the energy he needs on the world stage.

And, I hope Teresa is doing well too.

karynnj

(59,923 posts)
2. It has been an interesting week to watch the news
Thu Sep 26, 2013, 10:23 PM
Sep 2013

It was great to see that Teresa accompanied her husband to at least one meeting and that she was with Michelle Obama at what had to be one of the coolest events given for the UN wives.

It is great to see the amount of trust that President Obama must have in Kerry. Given that he was essential to the resolution on Syria, it had to be that he was far and away the best person to engage the Iranian foreign minister.

That while Obama lists his two top goals as Iran and the Palestinian/Israeli peace - and Kerry is the at the center for the US on both.

Cha

(305,136 posts)
3. Oh, that's right.. Teresa was with Michelle at the UN Luncheon for
Thu Sep 26, 2013, 10:31 PM
Sep 2013

the wives of Heads of State!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/110217133

Yes, PBO knew what he was doing when he nominated Senator Kerry for SOS.. who I believe he wanted from the beginning.

MADem

(135,425 posts)
4. This has been a remarkable week for the administration, and SECSTATE has been at the heart of it!
Thu Sep 26, 2013, 10:32 PM
Sep 2013

He deserves many, many kudos for all his hard work--this is a huge step forward.

This is just a start--just a beginning. But that IS what it is. So now it's on to Geneva and here's hoping we can move forward with UN inspections and sanctions removal following transparent inspections and actions by Iran.

I never thought we'd see this quite so soon, if ever--it's good news.

karynnj

(59,923 posts)
8. Agree - it has been a great week on foreign policy for Obama
Fri Sep 27, 2013, 07:07 AM
Sep 2013

and hopefully, we get past the GOP nonsense on the CR.

sheshe2

(87,272 posts)
5. Here is to hope.
Thu Sep 26, 2013, 11:27 PM
Sep 2013

This is an unprecedented break through that have been stagnant for far to long.

Thanks to SOS Kerry and our President we may very well see progress.

Inuca

(8,945 posts)
9. What's with the background??
Fri Sep 27, 2013, 12:29 PM
Sep 2013

BTW, incredible week indeed. Hopefully the ones to come will be equally promising. So many "big" thing happening, and none of them easy.

karynnj

(59,923 posts)
11. It is a real time of hope
Sat Sep 28, 2013, 07:06 AM
Sep 2013

Let's hope that things continue in the direction they are turning. This last week has seen the fruits of so much hard work by the the Obama administration and the world.

Though not of the same newsworthiness, I am so glad that Teresa was at the UN - participating in events - with Kerry.

karynnj

(59,923 posts)
12. Back story on how Kerry's private conversation with Zarif happened
Sat Sep 28, 2013, 11:46 AM
Sep 2013

First there was a handshake, then an invitation to talk and finally a 30-minute tete-a-tete that made for the highest-level official meeting between the United States and Iran in more than three decades.

The opportunity for a rare meeting between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, came after talks concluded between Zarif and foreign ministers from the six major powers on resolving Tehran’s disputed nuclear program.

At the start of the talks, Kerry and Zarif shook hands, a senior U.S. official told reporters.
<snip>
At the end of the meeting, Kerry seized the opportunity to invite Zarif for private talks, according to the senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Read more: http://forward.com/articles/184622/john-kerrys-shall-we-talk-sparked-iran-thaw/#ixzz2gCse2GsB


Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»John Kerry»What a day this is for Ke...