In a joint statement on Friday, more than a dozen parties involved in the Syrian conflict, including the United States and Russia, agreed to work toward establishing a nationwide cease-fire.
"We all have a sense of urgency. We all know what is at stake," U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in an announcement alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.N. envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura. The United Nations will broker the cease-fire between the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad and his opposition, with the goal of conducting internationally supervised elections. While the U.S. and its allies want Assad out, Lavrov said the decision would be up to the Syrian people. Refugees will be allowed to take part in the elections.
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