Germany's foreign minister said Tuesday that Vienna talks on Syria are a first "serious attempt to break the spiral of increasing violence and chaos", but dampened hopes for quick solutions, AFP reports.
"In Syria, after five years of civil war and more than 250,000 dead, there are finally first steps in the search for a solution," said Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin. He stressed, ahead of international talks in the Austrian capital Saturday, that "there is no reason for optimism, let alone euphoria".