<blockquote>'It stresses that the leaders are united in wanting a negotiated and peaceful end to the conflict that will produce a government "under a top leadership that inspires public confidence." '
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G8 backs urgent Syria peace talks in Geneva, 18 June 2013</blockquote>
'Mopping-up operations would have to be conducted by both the regime and the Free Syrian Army to clear the areas under their respective control of foreign jihadist fighters.'<blockquote>'President Putin has indicated a willingness to station Russian peacekeepers in Syria and it is in their interest to maintain influence with all the parties that may participate in governing Syria. The Russians have been explicit that their support is not for individuals in the Syrian regime.
Russia are perhaps the only interlocutor capable of persuading the Assad regime to accept a ceasefire enforced by peacekeeping troops and political negotiation, once it becomes clear that Assad cannot rely on air power and/or heavy weapons to crush the rebellion.
Russian peacekeeping troops (sympathetic to Orthodox Christians) could be stationed in the valley of Christians at Wadi al-Nasara in western Syria. From this strategic location, peacekeeping troops can cut the road to Aleppo at either Homs or Hama and cut the Latakia-Tartus road on the coast. Control of this area enables control of the war in Syria. They can protect the Alawite dominated coastal area from attacks by forming a mountain-based defensive line connecting the Russian Naval port at Tartus and Homs and joining the area of the valleys to the coastal strip.
Mopping-up operations would have to be conducted by both the regime and the Free Syrian Army to clear the areas under their respective control of foreign jihadist fighters.'
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Opinion: A Peace Plan for Syria, June 24, 2013</blockquote>
Context<blockquote>The Elders -
'.. diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.' 20 June 2013</blockquote>