Obama: Syrian peace talks ‘may yield results’

Obama said that the United States is continuing to
investigate the evidence of a chemical attack committed by Syrian President
Bashar Assad’s forces, which would cross the “red line” set by the president.

{mosads}Obama reiterated his desire to work with the international community
on steps forward in Syria Thursday, while saying that all options
remained on the table.

“I preserve the options of taking additional steps, both
diplomatic and military, because those chemical weapons inside of Syria also
threaten our security over the long term as well as our allies and friends and
neighbors,” Obama said.

“I don’t think anybody in the region, including the prime
minister, would think that U.S. unilateral actions in and of themselves would
bring about a better outcome inside of Syria,” Obama added.

Secretary of State John Kerry announced last week with
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that the Americans and Russians wanted
to hold talks with Syrian officials to try to find a political solution to the
two-year civil war.

Despite reservations expressed by both the Syrian government
and the rebels, Kerry said
Tuesday that the “core group” of countries that support the rebels and the
chief of staff of the Free Syrian Army have agreed to the talks.

Asked when Assad would leave power and how, Obama said “the sooner
the better,” but acknowledged that it was a difficult process because of the war.

“There’s no magic formula for dealing with an
extraordinarily violent and difficult situation like Syria’s,” Obama said. “If
there was, I think the prime minister and I would have already acted on it and
it would already be finished.”

Erdoğan emphasized the role of Russia and China in helping end
the war, as those countries have been among the Syrian government’s biggest backers
on the United Nations Security Council.

“Russia and China being part of this process is very
important,” he said through a translator. “Their participation in this process
will certainly add greater impetus.”