World powers have agreed on a "cessation of hostilities" in Syria that could serve as a bridge towards the resumption of genuine peace talks later this month.
Emerging from a marathon meeting that stretched late into the night in Munich on Thursday, United States Secretary of State John Kerry said the powers had agreed on a plan that had the potential to "change the daily lives of the Syrian people".
"Today in Munich we believe we have made progress on both the humanitarian front and the cessation of hostilities front," Kerry said.
"We have agreed on a nationwide cessation of hostilities" starting one week from now, he said.
"This will apply to any and all parties in Syria, except for Daesh (the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL) and al-Nusra," he added.
Importantly, the term "ceasefire" was not included in the plan - despite earlier calls from all sides for a more definite agreement.
Ministers at Thursday's talks wrangled over three core issues: a gradual cessation of hostilities with a firm end date, humanitarian access to cities being besieged by both sides and a commitment that Syrian parties return to Geneva for political negotiations.
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said ending the fighting could only succeed if Russia stopped air strikes supporting Syrian government forces' advance against the opposition.
"If implemented fully and properly ... this (deal) will be an important step towards relieving the killing and suffering in Syria," Hammond said in a statement.
"A Western diplomatic source said: "We did not get a deal on the immediate end of Russian bombings, but we have a commitment to a process that if it works would change the situation."
World leaders, including the US, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Iran were meeting in Munich on Thursday with the aim of restarting the peace talks between the government and Syrian opposition...
Source: Al Jazeera
12/2/16
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Lavrov described the US accession to the Russian humanitarian aid in Syria...
ReplyDeleteThe United States will join the Russian operations of air delivery of humanitarian aid to Syria. In this respect there is an agreement said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. His words transfers on Friday February 12 Tass.
“We have a common commitment to help alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people we hope that it will be done” – explained the Minister.
In particular he said the readiness of the United States and other countries to join by dropping humanitarian aid operations with aircraft in Deir ez-Zor which is in a state of siege the largest number of civilians “also agreed to use the parachuting of humanitarian assistance and other areas where the situation allows you to do it ” – he added the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
“But the bulk of the effort of course will have to work” on the ground “” – he stressed......http://rushincrash.com/world/lavrov-described-the-us-accession-to-the-russian-humanitarian-aid-in-syria/