UN Security Council approves Russia-Turkey ceasefire plan for Syria

 

 

The United Nations Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution welcoming a ceasefire in Syria brokered by Russia and Turkey.

 

It also gives formal approval for planned talks to take place in Kazakhstan next week between the Syrian government and opposition.

 

 

Russia and Turkey announced the ceasefire this week, the third this year seeking to end the war.

 

“This is a very important initiative. And the resolution that we adopted today confirms the need to establish and to respect the ceasefire in Syria, as well as it confirms the need to hold a very important meeting in the capital of Kazakhstan,” said Russia’s ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin.

 

The UN resolution also calls for the “rapid, safe and unhindered” access to deliver humanitarian aid throughout Syria.

However some rebel groups have threatened to abandon the two-day old truce if violations persisted.

 

Factions belonging to the Free Syria Army (FSA) – a loose alliance of militias excluding more radical Islamist groups – said government forces and Iranian-backed Lebanese Hezbollah fighters had been trying to push rebels back in the Wadi Barada Valley, northwest of Damascus.

 

The rebels and political opposition accuse the government of massing forces to launch a ground attack.

 

Syria’s foreign minister visited Iran on Saturday to discuss the latest developments on the ground, including the nationwide truce.

 

Walid al-Moallem held a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.

 

Iran, along with Russia, provides crucial military support to President Assad’s government – which has been boosted after recently taking control of Aleppo.

 

 

-- © Copyright Euronews 2017-01-01

 

Great news for the people of Syria and congratulations to all involved in bringing this about. 

 

I sincerely hope it is the start of peace in 2017 and that you will have the chance for free elections to choose who to lead the country….be it Assad or someone else….but it is most important that the leader be chosen by the Syrian people and not imposed by an outside force. Imposing leaders has not met with any success Iraq where a bomb killed many yesterday; nor in Afghanistan, where the leader does not control much of the country outside the capital, corruption is rife, warlords rule and where the Taliban are still a force to be reckoned with.

Despite the good news, it is difficult to be hopeful when Erdogan is one of the parties to the agreement.

Yes, great news. Russia is the key

I hope it holds but too many Groups left out who also having backing by more moderate groups