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FM Adel Al-Jubeir: Syria Ceasefire Deal Could Be Agreed within 24 Hours | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir speaks to the media at a hotel in Tokyo, Japan, September 2, 2016. REUTERS/Toru Hanai


Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said on Tuesday there was a possibility of brokering an agreement on a ceasefire in Syria within 24 hours.

Asked at a briefing with reporters in London to comment on the failure of the United States and Russia to agree a ceasefire, Al-Jubeir said he would not describe it as a failure but as a work in progress.

“There is a possibility of arriving at an understanding in the next 24 hours or so that will test Bashar al-Assad’s seriousness to comply,” he said.

According to Reuters, the minister went on to say Assad’s history did not inspire optimism about implementation of any agreement.

A cessation of hostilities agreement negotiated by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in February unraveled within weeks, with Washington accusing Assad’s forces of violating the pact.

Moreover, he added that Saudi Arabia would go along with a freeze in oil output if other producers agreed one but cautioned that Iran could foil any attempt to limit output.

“If there’s a freeze, Saudi Arabia will go along with it and we are hoping there could be a meeting of the minds when this comes together,” FM Adel al-Jubeir told reporters in London.

“I believe again the spoiler will be the Iranians. You can’t expect other countries to freeze while you reserve the right to increase your production. The Russian position is more in line with our position than not,” he said.