In November 2015, foreign governments participating in UN-backed talks agreed that Syria should hold new elections in the next two years (Reuters, NY Times). UN-backed elections could include the supervisory role stipulated in the Vienna communique (see Article 4 of the Security Council Resolution), other forms of active involvement in the elections (electoral assistance) or statements of support (e.g., Tanzania, Central African Republic, Myanmar). Recommend Question Will Bashar al-Assad cease to be President of Syria before 1 March 2017? Before April 2016, will the French Army or Foreign Legion deploy combat troops to fight the Islamic State on the ground in Syria or Iraq?