<p>A ceasefire in Syria could be possible within six months with elections following a year later, UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon told FRANCE 24 in an exclusive interview Saturday, though he admits such a goal is a tall order for the war-torn country.</p><br />“The first priority is to have a nationwide ceasefire within six months and within 18 months have an election,” Ban told this week’s edition of The Interview.<br />“Of course this road map may be very ambitious and it’s a very tight schedule. That is why my special envoy, Staffan de Mistura, has been and is still continuing to work very closely with the countries concerned.”<br />Some of the key international players in the Syria conflict, including the US, Russia, Turkey and Iran have been meeting for talks on resolving the country’s civil war in Vienna.<br />US Secretary of State John Kerry said this month that a ceasefire between Syria’s government and the opposition could be just weeks away from reality.<br />However, significant divisions remain between the international actors, particularly over the role of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Western powers want to see him relinquish power while Russia and others are keen for him to remain in place.<br />Ban also discussed a number of other trouble spots around the world, including Libya and the Palestinian Territories, as well as the upcoming COP21 climate change talks in Paris.<br /><br />Visit our website:<br />http://www.france24.com<br /><br />Like us on Facebook:<br />https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English<br /><br />Follow us on Twitter:<br />https://twitter.com/France24_en
