Kerry working overtime for peace in Syria

 If a truce comes into effect in conflict-torn Syria, it will partially be for the intense diplomatic efforts made from New Delhi over the past two days. 

A suite in a star hotel in New Delhi was indeed turned into a nerve-centre of US diplomatic efforts for about 48 hours to work out a deal with Russia to bring about a ceasefire in Syria, where a civil war has been raging since March 2011.

The suite was occupied by the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, who was scheduled to end his tour to New Delhi on Wednesday, but decided to stay back for two more days.
Kerry and his entourage finally left for China on Friday. He will join US President Barack Obama in Hangzhou in east China.

Obama will take part in the G20 summit, which Chinese President Xi Jinping will host in Hangzhou on Sunday.

 The summit may also provide an opportunity to Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet and narrow their differences on Syria.

And it was from New Delhi that Kerry over the past 48 hours has tried to set the stage for the Obama-Putin meeting, which could be the last before the US elects a new president.

Kerry called up Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov from New Delhi and tried to work out the details of a proposed deal to bring about a nationwide ceasefire in
Syria.

They had met last week in Geneva and agreed on most of the issues involving the proposed ceasefire in Syria.