Russia, US Agree on Truce in Syria

Russia, US Reach Truce Agreement: Putin, Obama to Discuss Syria in Coming Days

By Peter KORZUN

Another diplomatic breakthrough is achieved. Russian and US foreign chiefs reached a truce on February 21 that could begin in the next few days in Syria’s five-year civil war.

«We have reached a provisional agreement in principle on the terms of a cessation of hostilities that could begin in the coming days», US State Secretary John Kerry told a news conference in Amman with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Sergey Lavrov and John Kerry spoke on the phone Sunday, February 21, for a second day in a row and discussed «the modality and conditions» for a ceasefire in Syria.

While on a visit to Jordan, the US State Secretary said Russia has to talk with Iran and the Syrian government and the United States has to talk with the opposition and members of the International Syria Support Group. «What we are trying to achieve is a process with precision and commitment, and if we get that, that’s the best opportunity for the people of Syria to see the violence reduced», he said.

The Secretary added that he and Lavrov hoped that US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin would be speaking in the coming days in order to complete the provisional agreement in principle, and that the two sides are «still filling out the details» before the implementation.

The two foreign chiefs also discussed military coordination in a bid to ensure a truce in Syria, where government troops continue to battle foreign-backed terrorists.

The news about Russia-US agreement came following the February 19 rejection by the US and France of a Russia-drafted resolution at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council aimed at halting cross-border shelling as well as preventing a foreign ground intrusion against the Syrian territory. Russia regretted the fact that the document was rejected.

On January 29, talks between the government of Syria and the representatives of the Syrian opposition began in Geneva. UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said on February 3 that the talks came to a temporary pause. The resumption of the intra-Syrian negotiation process is expected on February 25. Kerry and Lavrov are the main architects of the Munich agreement on February 11 and 12 according to which 17 countries and three organizations agreed on a proposed ceasefire. The Munich agreement called for a cessation of hostilities to begin as early as February 19. However, that date passed with no truce coming into effect. Now, an important diplomatic breakthrough is achieved to rectify the situation. There is a chance for success.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on February 20 he was ready for a ceasefire adding that terrorists must not use a lull in fighting to their advantage.

«We have said that we are ready to stop military operations, but the issue relates to more important factors…such as preventing terrorists from using it to improve their positions», Assad was quoted as saying by an official online media outlet.

CONTINUE